"How can you go against her" - Navratilova picks Swiatek to win WTA Finals

Monday, 31 October 2022 at 12:30

Updated at Tuesday, 11 February 2025 at 17:19

byErik Virostko

Martina Navratilova picked Iga Swiatek to win the 2022 WTA Finals. The American legend can't see anyone beating the reigning World No. 1 player.

Swiatek has been by far the best player in the world, with a 64-8 record this year. She won four WTA 1000 events as well as two Grand Slams.

The Pole was also on a 37-match winning streak, and ahead of the 2022 WTA Finals, it was difficult for Martina Navratilova to choose anyone else as the favorite to win the title.

"She won two of the four majors, and the rest of it is just mind-blowing. When I had a great year, at the year-end championships, you relaxed. It's 'I had a great year, I don’t have to prove anything.' She’s had a couple of weeks off. There’s absolutely no pressure on her, so she could play probably the most free tennis of anybody there."

The former World No. 1 player can't see anybody reaching the level that Swiatek is capable of producing. On top of that, Navratilova also praised Swiatek's ability to adapt to different court speeds.

"You have to go with Swiatek. How can you go against her? She would probably adapt the best to whatever the speed of the court is going to be."

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"She’s got pretty compact strokes, even though she puts a lot of topspin on that forehand. It’s not a massive swing, so she can deal with the faster court."

While there are some players who have relatively risky games and sometimes rely on having a good day, that's not Swiatek's case. That's why Navratilova thinks the Polish player can't "beat herself."

"And growing up in Poland, she probably would have practiced a lot on faster courts, so she can adapt to that. If it’s slow, great, the topspin will pay off for her. I can’t go against her because she’s never going to beat herself."