Andy Roddick, former world No. 1, recently shared his thoughts on Iga Swiatek’s potential Grand Slam future, offering a bold prediction as he reflected on her performance at the Australian Open. The Polish star made a valiant effort in Melbourne, but her run ended in a gripping semi-final loss to Madison Keys, 7-5, 1-6, 6-7(8). Swiatek had a chance to win the match when she served for it at 6-5 in the third set but couldn’t capitalize on a match point before falling in a tight 10-point tiebreak.
At 23 years old, Swiatek was chasing her first Australian Open title and fifth Grand Slam overall. She had been in blistering form leading up to the semi-final, not dropping a set and conceding just 14 games across her first five matches—a testament to her dominance throughout the tournament.
On his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick expressed his admiration for Swiatek’s performance, particularly given the backdrop of her recent doping controversy involving a contaminated melatonin test. He acknowledged the challenges Swiatek faced leading into the tournament, stating, “Props to Iga. We’ve been questioning how the contaminated substance, melatonin situation was gonna affect her coming into Australia.”
Roddick continued by noting Swiatek’s low-key, no-nonsense approach to her career, contrasting it with the more composed, almost serene demeanor of Jannik Sinner. “She’s someone that is not thirsty for attention,” Roddick explained. “The last thing she wants is some kind of negative spotlight keeping her name out there.” Roddick compared her to himself in some ways, reflecting on how he was often more frantic and fidgety.
On the court, Roddick was quick to praise Swiatek’s intensity. “Her intensity point to point is Rafa-like,” he said, referring to the fierce competitiveness of Rafael Nadal. Swiatek’s emotional reactions during matches, such as looking to her box when things go wrong, set her apart from Nadal, who tends to keep his emotions hidden. “She emotes more than Rafa, which makes us view her as more expressive, but her focus and intensity never falter.”
Roddick also pointed out one area where Swiatek faces challenges: her forehand grip. “Does she have an issue when someone goes with massive pace on fast surfaces to the forehand side, because she has a pretty extreme grip? Yes,” Roddick noted. But despite these technical obstacles, he remained convinced of her ability to succeed across all surfaces, dismissing any skepticism surrounding her credentials on hard courts.
“I don’t wanna hear your chirping about clay versus hard courts,” Roddick declared firmly. “Iga is gonna win a handful of Grand Slams on surfaces that aren’t clay. She just will, she’s 23. Oh, and while she’s working on that, she’s going to win like five French Opens.”
Roddick further clarified his point, saying that just because Swiatek is dominant on clay doesn’t diminish her hard-court abilities. “Just because she’s not as good on hard courts doesn’t mean she’s not good on hard courts,” he said. “One point away from being in the Australian Open final with a real shot? Save it.”
Roddick was unequivocal in his belief that Swiatek will win multiple majors outside of Roland Garros, predicting that she’ll collect “three or four other majors” in addition to her likely dominance in Paris. “She’s gonna win nine French Opens,” he asserted confidently.
Reflecting on her potential all-time Grand Slam tally, Roddick was adamant. “Where does that leave her on the all-time count? Save it. Some people are just better on different surfaces.” With a bright future ahead of her, Swiatek’s ability to adapt and thrive on any surface will surely be a key factor in her continued success.