The other bad news is that Swiatek has been using that natural spin that Keys mentioned to greater effect on hard courts at this event. Swiatek’s new coach, Wim Fissette, says that, rather than having her change her game and flatten out her strokes for this surface, he wanted her to stick with the heavy topspin that has worked so well for her on clay over the years. The results have spoken for themselves: She has lost seven games in her last four matches.
“I think working with him is more like an evolution instead of revolution,” Swiatek says of Fissette. “I wasn’t looking for anybody to turn my game, like, upside down and change some crazy things.”
Keys is playing well. She has been up and down as always, but she has found the balance, and the corners, by the end of each her matches. Against Swiatek, she’ll have to find that balance much earlier, because Iga can turn into a runaway train once she gets a break. If this match were a high noon on a 100 degree day, Keys might have a better chance. But it’s not. Winner: Swiatek
