The race for the year-end No. 1 ranking in the women's game will be decided at the WTA Finals, but Andy Roddick does not think achieving that is a priority for Iga Swiatek.
After becoming the seventh woman in tennis history to have multiple spells of 50 weeks or more at No. 1, Swiatek was overtaken at the top of the rankings by Aryna Sabalenka on Monday.
Sabalenka was guaranteed to move ahead of Swiatek in two weeks when the Pole drops the 1,500 points she earned from winning the 2023 WTA Finals, which saw her finish that season as the year-end No. 1 ahead of her Belarusian rival.
However, Sabalenka became No. 1 this week because of a controversial rule about mandatory WTA-500 tournaments that led to Swiatek losing the 120 points she earned at this year's Miami Open.
That development will reignite debates about the length of the tennis calendar. Swiatek had been vocal about the season being too long before losing the No. 1 ranking, feeling it is not sustainable.
Sabalenka has been open about how finishing the season at No. 1 is a goal for her, which is unsurprising after having that achievement snatched away from her by the five-time Grand Slam champion last year at the 2023 WTA Finals.
However, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick does not believe that finishing 2024 at No. 1 is as important to Swiatek. Speaking on an episode of his podcast Served with Andy Roddick, he thinks the 23-year-old is more focused on the long-term.
"I like that she's (Swiatek's) gotten to that point in her career where she's taking the long view on this. She's not in a rush to get it back. It's obviously not a priority for her. She's done it before so that helps, right?"
Swiatek's hiring of Wim Fissette, who had two spells coaching Naomi Osaka, as her new coach, might indicate long-term planning since it could take her a while to improve under Fissette's guidance.
Roddick outlined his respect for both women on the same episode. He says tennis fans are lucky to watch the fight for the No. 1 ranking go to the wire, contrasting with Jannik Sinner already being confirmed as the ATP No. 1.
"One of the things I do want to point out in this whole scenario with Swiatek and Sabalenka and how lucky we are to actually have the same two players fighting for the top spot again."
"Both work hard. Both deservedly so and also, I'm not mad at Iga because she actually is one of the few players who talked about being a little burnt out. Obviously split with her coach, but then is still taking the time, right?"
The American also mentioned the pair's race for the No. 1 spot last year and how some forget that Swiatek did have a brief spell at No. 2 after the US Open last year before reclaiming the position.
"Props to Sabalenka. Iga actually won the No. 1 ranking from her at World Tour Finals (WTA Finals) last year. We often treat it as if Iga's been No. 1, and she has been for the large part of it, but she had to win two matches on the trot to keep the No. 1 ranking at the end of last year. It feels like we're on the same track."