Iga Swiatek vs. Dayana Yastremska
If you want to know how to beat Swiatek, you have to look first to Jelena Ostapenko. The Latvian has never lost to her, and she beat her handily less than a month ago.
If you’re looking for a player who closely matches Ostapenko’s style, you would probably look first to Yastremska. Both women essentially go for broke on every shot; they have the capability to hit a winner, or make an error, at any moment. Swiatek, an attacking player by nature who uses a long, Western-grip swing on her forehand side, doesn’t like this. She gets rushed and rattled, has less control over the proceedings, and makes errors.
Last month, when Swiatek met Yastremska in Dubai, this prompted me to predict that the match would be a toss-up. Not only did Yastremska have the right game to beat Iga, she was 1-0 against her, and had just reached a final in Linz. The first set was indeed a toss-up; Swiatek won it 7-5. But then she won the second 6-0.
Can Yastremska keep it closer for longer, or even come out with a win, this time? She looked sharp in her IW opener. But then so did Swiatek. Winner: Swiatek
