“For whatever reason, she looks more stressed out on the court,” Davenport added. “Whether that’s because the results haven’t been there or the change of coach, I don’t know, so I’m speculating.
“She just doesn’t look as calm or at ease on the court.”
Good news for world No. 2 is that she reached the semifinals of a hard-court major for the first time since 2022 at this year’s Australian Open, not to mention that she’s heading into an event she’s dominated the last few years.
The slower court conditions in the California desert favor players like Swiatek, Davenport said. The ball bounces high at Indian Wells, yet travels quickly across the court, which gives them more time to see out the point.
