“I can’t wait to compete soon,” is how Iga Swiatek ended her official statement while announcing the addition of Wim Fissette to her team. The renowned coach has previously mentored players like Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, and Simona Halep. Despite dominating the clay courts with a 4th-time victory at Roland Garros, Swiatek has struggled on hard courts where her rival Aryna Sabalenka never backs down from taking the lead. Not only did her absence create an air of concern but snatched the world no.1 spot from her. Amid the Polish WTA star’s preparation for a comeback, Ana Ivanovic had a few words to say about her.

Former Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic has long admired Iga Swiatek’s ability to dominate on the court, especially in Paris. Amid all the chaos surrounding her image, Ivanovic praised her ability to be strong even during tough moments. “She’s in a really good mood. Above all, she’s mentally fully present in every match. That’s what sets her apart from the other players at the moment.” Ivanovic said.

She also highlighted how Swiatek’s game has become more aggressive, with her tactical awareness making it difficult for opponents to find answers. “Tactically, she’s playing more and more cleverly,” Ivanovic added, stating how well Swiatek reads both her opponents and the overall game flow.

Swiatek is preparing for a busy November as the tennis season heads towards its final stretch. After taking a break following her quarterfinal loss to Jessica Pegula at the U.S. Open in September, the world number two skipped the WTA’s Asian swing due to fatigue. Now, she remains ready to represent Poland at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga, where they will face Spain. “See you in Malaga! I’m happy to announce that I will play in the BJKC Finals,” Swiatek posted on social media, expressing her excitement about competing for her country. “Together with team Poland we will give our best on the court.”

Swiatek also made significant changes to her coaching team earlier this month. She parted ways with long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and brought on Wim Fissette. With these changes, she has her sights set on performing well in the BJKC Finals and the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The latter event offers her a chance to reclaim the world’s number-one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka.

Andy Roddick commends Iga Swiatek’s approach to managing a grueling tennis schedule

Former world number one Andy Roddick talked about the growing concerns surrounding the tennis calendar. On his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, the American star discussed the challenges of balancing performance with rest. He pointed out that many players have voiced their struggles with the demanding schedule but rarely take steps to address it. Among these players is women’s world number two, Iga Swiatek, who has been particularly vocal about the issue after losing her top spot to Aryna Sabalenka.

What sets Swiatek apart, Roddick noted, is her decision to actually step away and prioritize recovery. She notably skipped the entire Asian swing of the WTA tour this season, partly to manage her exhaustion and partly due to the recent change in her coaching staff. Roddick praised Swiatek for putting her mental and physical well-being first, instead of pushing through the demanding schedule like many others do.

“Simply, Iga talks about being burnt out,” Roddick said. “A lot of people talk about how the tennis season is too long and then they add 17 exhibitions in the week before some other event. That’s their prerogative. I like the fact that there seems to be a focus, whether it’s coaching or taking a break when you have to.”

Roddick highlighted that Swiatek’s long-term focus is what stands out. He believes her decision to take a break reflects a maturity and understanding of what it takes to maintain a successful career in the long run. “I like that the long view seems to be the guiding factor right now for Swiatek,” he said.

Roddick’s admiration for Swiatek’s ability to step back at such a crucial point in her career shows how much value he places on self-care and proper management. As the time for her comeback nears, it remains to be seen if she will make this break worthwhile.