Iga Swiatek's dominant season only a slight surprise for coach Wiktorowski
After a 2022 season that yielded two major trophies, adding more variety to the 21-year-old's game is the next target.
Iga Swiatek dominated the WTA Tour this season, reaching No. 1 in the rankings and winning eight titles, including the French Open and US Open.
Though the 21-year-old from Poland also won the French Open two years ago, this was her first year atop the rankings. It was also the first year of the player-coach pairing between Swiatek-Tomasz Wiktorowski, with the veteran coach joining her team during the 2021 offseason.
"She kept up the high level she showed at the beginning. There were no major wobbles. Everything was on a level that could previously only be dreamed of," said Wiktorowski, speaking to Sport.pl.
The former coach of Aga Radwanska was selected for his experience, after helping improve Radwanska to No. 2 in the rankings. From his familiarity of Swiatak's game through previous tennis commentary work, he suggested she play more aggressively.
But Swiatek's ability to do it ''showed that she was already a great player and she just needed a bit of re-direction, different training," added Wiktorowski.
"To be honest, I didn't expect her to be able to implement these little things so soon, like correcting her forehand swing, return position or changing the distribution and direction of her shots," he said. "From a technical point of view, Iga has improved her serving most this year. I can confirm this with the numbers."
Wiktorowski, along with her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, also appears to have helped her find consistency at that high level. Swiatek went 67-9 this season, and according to the coach, only two of the defeats—to Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals and to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon—were due to substandard play.
And despite her success, they are still aiming to add to her game. This time, it's more variety.
"We're working a lot on slice right now, forehand and backhand. Also on the volley. A drop shot is played with a move like a slice," said Wiktorowski.
Swiatek has not yet fully decided on her schedule, but will start her season with an exhibition team event in Dubai prior to some warmups for the Australian Open.