Iga Swiatek has been playing really solid tennis lately, but she'll face some really strong competition in Caroline Garcia at the 2023 China Open in Beijing.
Swiatek's return to competitive tennis didn't go so well in Tokyo last week, but the Polish player is looking miles better this week. She admitted after her Japan Open exit that she wasn't 100 % ready, and it made sense. With more matches, Swiatek is looking far better this week, winning comfortably.
Whether she can do the same against Caroline Garcia remains to be seen, but it's a matchup she has generally dominated. Garcia is a tricky player and loves these conditions in Beijing because it allows her to hit the ball the way she likes it, but she'll see plenty of quick balls flying back against Swiatek.
Head-to-head:
Even so, Garcia managed to win one match against Swiatek, and it was a pretty big win as it happened on Polish soil. It was a match at the Poland Open last year on clay, and Garcia actually won that match. It wasn't the most recent match we saw as they played at the WTA Finals later that year, and Swiatek won.
They also played an exhibition match in the lead-up to the 2023 season, and Swiatek won it again, so generally, the Polish player has been on top.
Prediction:
It makes sense because, in ways, Swiatek is simply better at everything that Garcia does well. She's a better hitter and moves better, with the French player only having the better serve. Yes, that's a huge weapon, but the higher bounce in Beijing should give Swiatek plenty of time to react.
If she plays the way she played this week she should comfortably win the match and that's what I'm expecting. I don't see Garcia playing consistently enough to actually win the match.
Preview: Iga Swiatek to win in two sets.
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