Can Swiatek solve grass court puzzle?
Poland's world number one Iga Swiatek is the red hot favourite to win the Wimbledon title but admits that grass court tennis is something she is still trying to figure out.
That admission will offer hope to her rivals but the bad news is the 21-year-old has done a pretty good job of figuring everything out so far in her stunning early career.
Swiatek makes no secret of her use of sports psychology and may need all her powers of positive thinking to plot her way to the Wimbledon title. She appears to be a huge favourite going into the tournament -- courtesy of a 35-match winning sequence that began in Qatar in February.
She was simply unstoppable on the Roland Garros clay, dropping one set as she claimed a second French Open title in three years, having free-wheeled her way to the 2020 title when she became the youngest French Open champion for 28 years.
But Wimbledon presents an entirely different challenge for a player whose nine career WTA titles have been won on clay and hard courts and who admits grass is tricky.
"Honestly I still feel like I need to figure out grass. Last year, for sure, it was that kind of tournament where I didn't know what to expect," Swiatek told reporters on Saturday.
The women's draw remains open with defending champion Ashleigh Barty having retired earlier this year.
Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, rarely a serious threat on grass, has withdrawn with an Achilles injury.
Meanwhile, ranked a lowly 1,204 in the world and without a competitive singles match in 12 months, 40-year-old Serena Williams will sweep into Wimbledon targeting what would be her greatest triumph.
The seven-time champion at the All England Club will also be chasing down a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
The odds have rarely been so stacked against the great American who can become the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon.
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