Iga Swiatek told key shot is ‘so predictable’ and has ‘not developed at all’ by Serena Williams’ ex-coach
Former doubles world No 1 Rennae Stubbs has strongly criticised Iga Swiatek’s serve and claimed it is an aspect of the Pole’s game that should be “much better.”
Swiatek‘s serve is seen as a weakness in comparison to the significant strengths she possesses in other areas, with the five-time Grand Slam winner renowned for the quality of her groundstrokes and her movement.
After hiring esteemed coach Wim Fissette in October, Swiatek did not hide the fact the serve was a key area of focus.
Asked what she was looking to work on with her new coach at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Swiatek said: “I think it’s kind of obvious. I for sure want to improve my serve, as I’ve been doing for past years.
“I feel like I still need to continue that. For sure I’m not a complete player.”
Among players who have played 10 or more WTA Tour matches in 2025, Swiatek ranks ninth for service points won (61.2%), and sixth for service games won (76.4%).
The world No 2 is 21st for first serve points won with 67.1%, while she is ninth for second serve points won 50.1% (also among players with 10+ matches).
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Speaking on her podcast, Stubbs laid out the issues she sees with Swiatek’s service motion and argued the shot is hurting the former world No 1.
“This is my thing about Iga and it has been for a while. She is 5ft 10, 5ft 11 (editor’s note: Swiatek is 5ft 9). She should have a much better serve,” said the six-time Grand Slam doubles titlist.
“I absolutely hate her service motion. It is so discombobulated. It’s like she takes the arm there, then the foot comes way too much to the front of her body.
“She should be way more side on. She should have a lot more wrist snap. Her serve has not developed at all and it’s so predictable.
“Where she is getting hurt in matches now is that she is getting broken a lot and I think the predictability of her second serve is where it hurts her.
“She hits the same one over and over and she kind of refuses to change it up. I think it is very hard for her to change it up because of her motion and because it is so discombobulated.
“She has like three hitches, she is very front on, her ball toss is way too far to the right. There is a lot of things she could improve to get a better serve and get more free points on her serve and become more of a weapon.”
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