Perseverance and tenacity were fitting themes when Iga Swiatek was invited recently to make a keynote speech to graduating students at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
The world No.1 from Poland had utilised those qualities superbly to claim her third title at Roland-Garros, and her fourth Grand Slam overall, last month. Now perseverance and tenacity are also featuring in Swiatek’s career-best run at The Championships, where the 22-year-old has advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time.
Swiatek achieved the milestone with a 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-3 win over No.14 seed Belinda Bencic on Sunday, in a Centre Court battle that required all of the top seed’s competitive grit.
The Pole saved two match points in a dramatic second set, before finally asserting her authority after a tense three hours and three minutes.
“It wasn't easy, obviously," said Swiatek, who needed confirmation she’d defended match points. “I don’t even know if that ever happened in my career that I came back from being match point down.
“But I’m really happy, you know, because I feel like I needed that win to kind of believe in myself a little bit more on this surface … I’m happy that I was just looking forward and kind of playing without regrets.”
Such battles are rare for Swiatek, who struggled to convert her early opportunities against the inspired Swiss, who is the Olympic champion. Utilising her crafty all-court tennis, Bencic defended six break points in the drawn-out first set. Two of them were set points and, with confidence soaring, Bencic dominated the tie-break to seize the 66-minute first set.
With her notebook consulted, Swiatek seemed to settle and in the first game of the second set ended Bencic’s run of 24 consecutive service holds in this year's Championships. But just as it seemed Swiatek at last held the momentum, Bencic battled back. Then Swiatek’s competitive spirit kicked in.
“It’s actually a little bit easier,” she explained of her mindset at that point. “You feel like she’s leading anyway, so you kind of play those shots more fearlessly … you kind of have nothing to lose. I just wanted to play – I didn’t care, and I guess it worked.”
Still, Swiatek was in unfamiliar territory as she held serve to force a second tie-break, the stat soon circulating that she’d never played more than one tie-break in a professional match. There were in fact only five on her record in the 2023 season – but this time, the Pole managed it superbly to level the match.
A break point saved in the third game of the decider would ultimately prove pivotal; Swiatek secured one of her own when Bencic double-faulted for the 10th time. Swiatek maintained momentum to record her 14th consecutive match win.
Setting up a quarter-final with Elina Svitolina, Swiatek also completed her set of reaching the quarter-finals at every Grand Slam. In new territory at The Championships, she’s warming up to more matches on the famous All England Club grass.
“Every day my love is getting bigger,” Swiatek smiled of her growing fondness for competing on the surface. “Hopefully I'm going to have as many days as possible to stay here and play on this court, because for sure this is my best year on grass.
“I feel really kind of motivated, because I know that even when you're not feeling 100 per cent, (the) hard work is paying off. So I’m happy I did that work and I can stay here.”
On Svitolina, Swiatek said: “I think she’s that kind of player who is, I don’t know, patient. She has enough experience to have all the skills to play defence, play offence.”
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