Iga Swiatek explains what’s happened in her training sessions recently which she’s feeling very good about ahead of clay season
2025 hasn’t gone entirely to plan for Iga Swiatek—at least not yet. But with the clay court swing now underway, things could be about to take a sharp turn in her favour.
The Polish star is widely considered the queen of clay, and with good reason. In 2024, Swiatek swept the Madrid Open, Rome, and the French Open, solidifying her dominance on her favorite surface.
Now, the 23-year-old is setting her sights on repeating that clay-court clean sweep, beginning with the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Swiatek Optimistic After Solid Training Block in Germany
Swiatek is currently gearing up for her clay court debut of the season in Stuttgart—a tournament where she has already lifted the trophy twice. However, it was also the site of a rare clay loss last year, when she was defeated by Elena Rybakina.
This year, Swiatek has taken a different approach by arriving in Germany earlier than usual to get a head start on her preparations—and it seems to be paying off.
“I love this place – it’s super exciting to be here,” Swiatek told reporters.
“I came here a little bit earlier this year and then I practiced every day, pretty long. I’ve had time to do some technical adjustments – and it’s helped me a lot.”
She added that the shift from hard courts to clay still requires some adaptation, but she’s feeling increasingly confident.
“We play on hard courts most of the year, so coming to clay means I still need some time to adjust. But I feel like I’m in the right place, and it has been looking pretty good on the practice court. Now I want to implement it in matches.”
📸 Iga Swiatek practices in Stuttgart on Sunday – Jimmie48 Photography
Chasing Sharapova: History Beckons for Swiatek
Should Swiatek capture the Stuttgart title again, it would be her third career victory at the tournament, placing her in elite company.
Only Maria Sharapova has won the event three times, triumphing consecutively from 2012 to 2014, defeating Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, and Sara Errani in the finals.
Swiatek’s loss in Stuttgart last year ended her bid for three in a row, meaning Sharapova remains the only player to achieve that feat. But a win this year would see Swiatek match her in total titles won at the event—and perhaps set the stage for a future record of her own.
