John McEnroe and Mats Wilander back Iga Swiatek to claim 10 Grand Slams

Iga Swiatek

Both seven-time Grand Slam winners Mats Wilander and John McEnroe believe that Iga Swiatek has enormous potential.

Wilander feels that Swiatek will win 10 or more Grand Slam titles in her career.

The young Pole has three to her name already and has been brilliant on both clay and the hard courts.

McEnroe feels that a lack of confidence cost Swiatek at Wimbledon but he remains certain that she will win more Majors.

Wilander believes the World No 1 is the clear favourite any time that she hits the slightest bit of form.

“I honestly think 10 would be a good number because I think she’s playing a game that’s a bit different from the other women,” Wilander told Eurosport.

“She’s playing faster, she’s moving faster, and she’s shown that when she’s not playing well in this tournament she can slow down and she can keep the ball in play by defending so extremely well.

“When she plays at her best, I don’t see a woman being able to beat her, and when she plays at her worst, you have to be a hell of a player to beat her. Okay, maybe not on grass, but I think she’ll learn to play on grass too. I think 10 [Grand Slams] minimum.”

McEnroe isn’t sure that Swiatek’s energetic game will lend itself to longevity and feels it might be a big ask for her to get into double figures in Grand Slam Title.

“I definitely think the sky’s the limit,” said McEnroe. “I saw her win the French [Open] a couple of years ago and obviously then she was predominantly a clay court [specialist].

“It reminds me a lot of Carlos Alcaraz, actually – she gets in and out of the corners better than almost any player I’ve ever seen. Alcaraz is one of the greatest movers ever. Swiatek is one of the best movers I’ve ever seen on a court.

“She took advantage of that – remember Ash Barty retired, she then had that incredible streak.

“Then the pressure got to her at Wimbledon, and maybe a little through the summer. She looked tense early in the tournament but pulled it together big time, so I have a tendency to agree with Mats.

“It’s going to be a bunch more. 10 more? That’s quite a bit, but certainly between five and 10, I would think.”

Swiatek has claimed seven WTA Tour titles this season bringing her career total to ten with three of these coming in Grand Slam competition.

She also won the Sunshine Double earlier this season which has helped her build a monstrous WTA Rankings lead over the chasing pack.

Swiatek has banked nearly $10 million in prize money during an incredible 2022 term and sports a 57-7 record following the US Open.

READ MORE: Iga Swiatek keen to follow in Serena Williams’ footsteps by using ‘pressure and intimidation’

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