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Rennae Stubbs picks out the tactical flaw holding Iga Swiatek back
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- Rennae Stubbs picks out the tactical flaw holding Iga Swiatek back
Photo by Mauricio Paiz/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Iga Swiatek hasn't gotten off to the start she was hoping for in the 2026 WTA season.
She kicked off the year by winning the United Cup alongside Hubert Hurkacz in January, but since then, things haven't quite fallen into place. Early exits have become a trend, and she's yet to string together any real momentum.
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Her struggles were on full display in Miami, where she crashed out early against fellow Pole Magda Linette. The loss seemed to hit hard, with Swiatek later describing it as her "worst nightmare."
Since then, there's been a split with coach Wim Fissette. Rennae Stubbs has recently weighed in on Iga Swiatek's struggles this year.
Stubbs thinks Swiatek is rushing points by attacking too early
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"If I was coaching her and was on the court with her I would say stay with the same shot," Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. "You don't need to change the direction of the ball that much.
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"I think you should stop trying to hit the sidelines.
"Hit the ball big and rely on the relentless pressure you are putting on your opponent, to be able to say, you change direction, you move this ball somewhere else, I'm not going to.
"I am going to stay in this rally as long as I can, with the same intensity."
This year, Swiatek has suffered losses to Elina Svitolina, Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari, Elena Rybakina, Magda Linette and Coco Gauff.
While many of these losses are not egregious, these are all players whom Swiatek is more than capable of defeating.
Stubbs had another theory about what might be impacting Swiatek's current form beyond just shot selection:
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I think she hasn't quite recovered from losing that Australian Open final last year."
Rennae Stubbs believes Iga Swiatek is rushing her point construction
"If I was coaching her and was on the court with her I would say stay with the same shot," Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast. "You don't need to change the direction of the ball that much.
"I think you should stop trying to hit the sidelines.
"Hit the ball big and rely on the relentless pressure you are putting on your opponent, to be able to say, you change direction, you move this ball somewhere else, I'm not going to.
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"I am going to stay in this rally as long as I can, with the same intensity.
This year, Swiatek has suffered losses to Elina Svitolina, Belinda Bencic, Maria Sakkari, Elena Rybakina, Magda Linette and Coco Gauff.
While many of these losses are not egregious, these are all players whom Swiatek is more than capable of defeating.
Stubbs believes one area where Swiatek can make a difference is by adjusting her approach during rallies. Instead of looking for winners too soon and changing directions early in points, she could focus more on building pressure through sustained aggression.
"That part doesn't bother me," Stubbs said. "What bothers me is why do we keep talking about footwork? The fact that she was so solid from both sides for so long."
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