Rennae Stubbs tells Iga Swiatek how to fix | Sports News

Iga Swiatek was as soon as the world’s top-ranked girls’s tennis participant, however because the re-emergence of stars like No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Elene Rybakina, the Polish star now finds herself hovering on the brink of falling out of the highest 5 for the second time since 2022.

The difficulty creeping into her sport is occurring within the smallest home windows, and tennis analysts who’ve damaged down her sport have recognized that decision-making in moments that used to come naturally now feels rushed and compelled. Swiatek‘s second-round shock exit on the Miami Open solely raised more issues for the close to future of her profession.

The sample has began to repeat throughout a number of tournaments this season, turning remoted losses into more noticeable ones. Swiatek has nonetheless proven she will be able to dominate stretches and control opponents early, and made the robust resolution to half methods with coach Wim Fissette after the Miami loss.

Former participant and coach Rennae Stubbs laid out prolonged free advice for Swiatek and her teaching workforce earlier than the Stuttgart Open in Germany, which begins April 13.

“If I was coaching her… I would say stay with the same shot. You don’t need to change the direction of the ball that much,” mentioned Stubbs.

“I think you should stop trying to hit the sidelines,” she continued. “Hit the ball big and rely on the relentless pressure you are putting on your opponent.” That analysis aligns with what Swiatek herself has publicly admitted because the “worst nightmare” stretch of her profession.

“It was just a bad match from me in the second and third sets. For sure, it’s tough to handle that when I know I played well in the first,” Swiatek admitted. “I just, I don’t know, unconsciously or consciously, it’s hard for me to change things, and then my tennis kind of collapses.”

Stubbs went even additional in figuring out the basis of the issue. She dismissed the criticism of the Polish star’s footwork totally and as an alternative centered on how rapidly Swiatek is attempting to finish factors.

“I don’t think the footwork is the problem. I think the problem is she is trying to pull the trigger and change direction way too early,” she said. “The middle of the court is your best friend when you are feeling a bit stressed.”

Despite outdoors teaching and never profitable all matches undoubtedly, Switek’s numbers don’t point out a collapse on paper. She remains to be ranked No. 4 on the planet with a 12-6 file in 2026 and maintains robust serving metrics, profitable over 71 % of her service video games.

Coco Gauff unseated the Polish star for No. 3 after the American’s run to the ultimate in opposition to Sabalenka at Miami. Swiatek most not too long ago withdrew from the Billie Jean King Cup to give attention to coaching.