Andy Roddick Shares What He Thinks Iga Swiatek Must Do to Improve Her Game for Grass Swing

Iga Swiatek is in Bad Homburg, bidding to win her first grass-court title. Swiatek has not yet ended her title drought. Since beating Jasmine Paolini in last year’s French Open final, the Pole failed to progress to another summit clash.

This year, the five-time Grand Slam champion reached the quarterfinals (except for the Italian Open as she lost to Danielle Collins in the third round) of every tournament. Swiatek also played in multiple semifinals and was expected to win her first title of the season on the clay swing.

But even at the French Open, she failed to reach the championship match. As the four-time Roland Garros champion has started her campaign on grass, she received advice from former player Andy Roddick on what she should do to improve her game on the surface.

Specifically to Iga on grass, I’d like to see her take more balls in the backhand side and not try to do that little circle to hit the inside-out forehand as much.

Andy Roddick said on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast

At Wimbledon, Swiatek was the semifinalist in 2023, losing that match to Elina Svitolina. Last year, the 24-year-old was defeated in the third round.

I would tell her if I’m her coach: ‘The simplest adjustment we can make is let’s take a lot more backhands.’ If you’re just left of center or even if you’re in the middle of the court, the ball on our backhand will be way more effective on the grass getting through the court. I think she has to mix up her second serve.

Andy Roddick added

At the French Open, Swiatek was defeated in the last four by Aryna Sabalenka who later lost the title to Coco Gauff. Sabalenka ended Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at the French Open as the Pole lifted the title three times on the trot from 2022 to 2024.