Todd Woodbridge says he’s hoping Iga Swiatek labored on her slice backhand within the offseason as the previous doubles world No. 1 believes it’s the key to the world No. 2 reaching success on the Australian Open.
Though the Pole has already gained 5 Grand Slams by the age of 23, she hasn’t had that a lot success at Melbourne Park to date in her profession.
Other than a semifinal outing in 2022, it has principally been early exits for Swiatek on the Australian Open – 3 times misplaced within the round-of-16 and in addition had second and third-round defeats.
However lately, the 23-year-old made a giant change and changed Tomasz Wiktorowski with Naomi Osaka’s former long-time coach Wim Fissette.
Shortly after their partnership was revealed, the Belgian coach – underneath whose steering Osaka gained the Australian Open and US Open – underlined one in every of his major objectives can be making the Pole a greater participant on quicker surfaces.
Woodbridge: Hopefully Swiatek and Fissette have been engaged on her backhand slice
“There’s a new coaching team [now including Wim Fissette], and hopefully in the off-season they’ve been running over to the backhand corner and hitting some slice backhands – a defensive shot to get back into play,” the Australian tennis legend said The AO Show Weekly.
“[It’s] one shot required for her to go one other stage right here, and that is to get a defensive ball, to get it again into play, and get again impartial into the court docket.
“If she can have been working on that, I promise you you’ll see a different look from Iga. It will allow her to use her forehand better, and set things up.
“And she doesn’t have that shot. Doesn’t use it. That’s all.”
Iga Swiatek© Iga Swiatek/Instagram – Fair Use
Also, Woodbridge – who won 16 Grand Slams in men’s doubles and six more in mixed doubles – also added that a stronger backhand would also allow Swiatek to “use her forehand manner higher.”
As soon as the previous world No. 1 kicks off her 2025 season, solely then we can see if she made any modifications to her recreation.
