Iga Swiatek compares herself to Carlos Alcaraz to explain why one aspect of her game ‘isn’t perfect’

As the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart heats up, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek opened up about her ongoing efforts to refine her technique—drawing a direct comparison to fellow young star Carlos Alcaraz.

Speaking candidly about a specific area of her game that still needs work, Swiatek explained that mastering certain skills later in one’s career is much harder without the benefit of early training.

“Yeah, that’s the idea, but it’s not something new,” Swiatek said, referring to a particular tactical move she’s been practicing. “I’ve always wanted to do that, but the technique isn’t perfect yet. If I hadn’t been doing that since I was a kid—like Carlos, for example—it’s a bit harder to implement it later on. Still, I want to try, because that’s the only way to improve and learn how to do it.”

Despite her dominant performances on the WTA Tour, Swiatek continues to push herself to evolve, even if that means going back to basics. The Polish star is determined to add new dimensions to her game to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive field.

Ahead of her quarterfinal clash in Stuttgart, Swiatek also spoke about the challenges of adapting to the tournament schedule, especially with longer breaks between matches.

“For sure, it’s going to feel like I’m playing a first match again,” she said. “You have to find your rhythm all over again. But honestly, every player is dealing with that in some way. I’m not overthinking it—it doesn’t really matter.”

Swiatek remains a top favorite in Stuttgart, looking to add another title to her already impressive collection. As always, her willingness to self-assess and strive for improvement makes her one of the most compelling players on tour.