At only 21, Iga Świątek is the best female tennis player on the planet. Her statistics and performances talk for themselves. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of 5 key elements that made this success story possible.
- Talent combined with hard work
For virtually any tennis player (with the possible exception of Nick Kyrgios), pure talent is not enough to achieve lasting success. Work and practice followed by more work and practice on a daily basis is a must. Knowing this, Iga has developed a disciplined work ethic that can be compared with that of Robert Lewandowski in football. Focus. Work. Practice. Repeat. This is the mantra by which Iga lives, and the results are seen by all.
- An excellent attitude
The late American journalist Earl Nightingale called “attitude” the “magic word” because of its crucial role in any great achievement. The rule goes as follows, poor attitude – poor results, fair attitude – fair results, good attitude – good results… You get the idea. In this area, Iga Świątek qualifies in the category of people displaying an excellent attitude no matter the setting. The Polish prodigy radiates positiveness and confidence on and off the court, which is of tremendous importance when it comes to her results.
https://twitter.com/iga_swiatek/status/1545834840804687872
- Consistency
The only way to reach the prestigious throne of world number one is to win matches over and over again, which is precisely what Iga has been doing for the first half of the season. Her winning streak of 37 definitely silenced those who might have believed that her form was only temporary. Consistency is the key word that makes Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic such legends of the game. Except in the case of physical issues, Iga could still be playing at the highest level by 2035.
- Maturity
Being the queen of tennis at the age of 21 goes along with tremendous pressure. That is one of the reasons why the young Varsovian always has her personal psychologist at hand. Besides, Iga behaves in an exemplary way as an athlete, also in the midst of defeats. If one of her rackets got broken, it would not be because of her smashing it from frustration on the ground, but rather as a result of her cute and forgivable clumsiness.
- The love of the game
Enjoyment is another element of the recipe for success in any field. Tennis is no exception. Although the legendary Andre Agassi repeatedly claimed not to enjoy playing tennis, the game was part of him to such an extent that he continued to play for hours long after having retired from the professional tour, as he explains in his autobiography, “Open”. In Iga’s case, it’s pretty apparent that tennis is like oxygen. There is no doubt about the fact that she is in her element on the tennis court. Followers of her Twitter page know that there is no day off when it comes to her purpose.
Image: Twitter (@iga_swiatek)
Author: Sébastien Meuwissen
