Martina Navratilova believes more players are confident of beating Iga Swiatek after her losses to Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova & others
Martina Navratilova recently claimed that the rest of the WTA tour is getting more confident about beating Iga Swiatek after seeing the likes of Elena Rybakina and Barbora Krejcikova beat the Polish star. Navratilova, a former World No. 1, feels that Swiatek will face a serious challenge for the rest of the season.
Swiatek, who seemed unbeatable for the majority of last season, has lost four matches already this season, and to three different players. She lost to Jessica Pegula at the United Cup, Barbora Krejcikova in the Dubai Tennis Championships final, and twice to Elena Rybakina - at the Australian Open, and most recently at Indian Wells.
Navratilova hailed Swiatek for earning the top spot in the world rankings after first clinching it through Ashleigh Barty's retirement, and for being a 'true champion' throughout last season. However, she then added that Swiatek's 2023 season has not been ideal so far given the high standards she has set.
"The way Swiatek imposed herself on the game, there was a clear No. 1," Martina Navratilova said in a recent segment for Tennis Channel. "We got a true champion here, not just somebody that got there by default because Iga really earned that position."
"But she's had a few hiccups this year, and it maybe hasn't gone as well as she would've liked," the American great added.
According to Navratilova, Swiatek will now face players with the belief that they can beat her, given that they have seen the performances of Rybakina, Krejcikova, and Pegula.
"The players feel that. It's that locker room confidence they get when they see other players beating Iga or giving her trouble, they think, 'Why not me?' So now it's going to be difficult for her," the 66-year-old opined.
After her semifinal loss to Rybakina at Indian Wells, Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Miami Open due to a rib injury. The 21-year-old is, however, expected to be fit in time for the start of the clay-court season.
Chris Evert feels Iga Swiatek is "still the player to beat"
Chris Evert also recently expressed her views on Iga Swiatek's slight dip in form. She opined that there is nothing alarming about Swiatek's losses this season and that the World No. 1 is still the player to beat on the WTA tour.
Evert recognized the challenge Swiatek faces from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, but dismissed talk of the three-time Grand Slam champion 'being in trouble.'
"We're so quick to say someone's dominant and then we're so quick to say 'Oh, they're in trouble. What do you think? Their career is in trouble?' No, Iga is still the No. 1 player in the world. No matter how you look at it, she still is the player to beat," Evert told Eurosport.
Iga Swiatek will be aiming to get back on the court as soon as she can and prepare adequately for the clay-court season, where she will defend three titles, including the French Open. Swiatek was unbeaten on the red dirt in 2022, winning the Stuttgart Open and the Italian Open before triumphing at Roland Garros.