Chris Evert analyses the ‘only thing stopping’ Iga Swiatek at Australian Open and ‘very strong’ Americans

Iga Swiatek looks to be the clear favourite for the 2023 Australian Open.

The world No. 1 dominated on the WTA Tour last season, winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams, and only losing nine matches. That she has twice as many ranking points as world No. 2 Ons Jabeur is reflective of just how much better she has been than all her rivals.

But a defeat at the United Cup this month to Jessica Pegula may have given the competition hope.

Two-time Australian Open champion and former world No. 1 Chris Evert thinks the defeat could spur Swiatek to victory in Melbourne, but also sees potential chinks in her armour.

“What I like about her is she she’s still so hungry for majors and for titles, and she seems like she’s very disciplined and determined in her approach to becoming the best player that she can be,” Evert told Eurosport.

“She had one little hiccup against Jessie Pegula. But Jessie played the match of her life and you just you gotta give her credit, because she just took the racquet away from Iga. And she just stepped up and really got ahead in the point earlier than Iga did, and I think it kind of shocked Iga and I think that’s why she reacted with tears.

“I think it was like she’s surprised that Jesse played so well, so consistently and the fact that she couldn’t figure out a way to beat her when her back was against the wall.

“But I almost think having a loss before a major is good. For me it was always good. If I lost the week before major, it made me even more determined and made me work harder. And so I don’t think it’s a bad thing that she had that loss.

“She’s so athletic, she just covers the court so beautifully, and she’s got the physical attributes, but she also has that really strong mentality of really wanting it and going after it. I don’t think the other players have that top level of both the mental and physical like Iga does.

“The only thing stopping her would be her second serve is a little weak, and I think players are pouncing on her second serve a little bit more now. And also, she’s got to really hold her emotions. She has to be tough emotionally.

“We’ve all seen her get frustrated on the court during a match. And we’ve seen the tears after a match. She just has to keep the emotional component strong and I think the title could be hers.”

Evert says it will be fascinating to see how they both react if they do meet again so soon after the one-sided result in the United Cup.

“I think a loss is a wake-up call. And I think you work harder as a result. If you’re a champion, you work harder as a result. And you don’t take anything for granted.

“It’s a real learning process. But I think you learn more from losses than you do from wins.

“So I think if Swiatek plays Jessie again there’s two there’s two factors. Can Jessie play as well as she did in that match? Where she was consistently brilliant. Can she maintain that level?

“And on the other hand, will Iga have her eyes more open to the fact that ‘OK, I’ve got to up my game because I know how well she can play’.”

Swiatek loss ‘gives the competition hope’

While Swiatek is the strong pick to win the Australian Open because of her fantastic form over the last year, she perhaps does not look as unbeatable as she did at times in 2022.

As well as the defeat to Pegula she also lost to Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals, and a new season brings with it some fresh challenges and unknowns.

“The first major of the year is always interesting,” said Evert.

“Everyone’s fresh mentally, everyone’s healthy injury free. They’re all eager and excited to start the new year well, and you don’t know what kind of hard work they put in the off-season. And so it’s like everybody has a clean slate.

“And anytime a No. 1 player loses, it gives the competition hope.

“I think what really matters is how Iga feels more so than how her opponents feel. Because Iga’s got to get back on top. And she’s got to get back that mentality and confidence.

“If she has that confidence that’s bad luck for the field. Because when she’s confident, and she’s aggressive, she’s really, really tough to beat.

“But in saying that, yes, it works the other way too, the other players can see that she’s human, and that she isn’t perfect. She’s not dominant, she will have off days. And they will have hope when they walk on the court with Iga.”

American women ‘look very strong’

Pegula is one of four American women ranked in the top 20 who will all be seeking a deep run in Melbourne.

“I think the Americans are very strong,” said Evert.

“We’ve been looking at Madison Keys for what, eight years now, saying is this going to be the year for Madison? Because we have seen the power she has.

“Is this going to be the year for Coco Gauff? Is she mature enough? And can she play seven matches and consistently playing her best tennis? Is she ready for that challenge?

“Pegula is very mature and very smart on the court. Mentally very tough. Can she step it up and play the level she played against Iga? If she can play up to that level, she could win this tournament. We saw a very high level of her play, very aggressive and stepping in.

“And Collins, we’ve seen her just knock the cover off the ball and play some very aggressive tennis. I think the American women are looking very strong and it’s very possible one of them could take the title.”

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