‘Dominant’ Iga Swiatek ‘will win Wimbledon at some point’ claims former world No 4

It is only a “matter of time” before Iga Swiatek wins Wimbledon, according to former world No 4 and SW19 semi-finalist Johanna Konta.

World No 1 Swiatek has now won five Grand Slam titles after her latest victory at the French Open – a third straight title at Roland Garros, and fourth overall.

The Pole has won five titles across 2024 so far and is comfortably clear of her main rivals in the WTA Rankings and WTA Race to Riyadh, though grass courts provide a tougher test.

Swiatek has only once reached the last eight at Wimbledon and will not play on grass before the tournament this year, withdrawing from the Berlin Open.

However, former British No 1 Konta believes that the Pole is a leading contender to one day lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

“I think she’ll be looking to take it one match at a time as she does every tournament she plays,” said Konta, speaking at a ‘Pickleball Slam’ event in London.

“I believe it is only a matter of time – she will win Wimbledon at some point. If it’s not this year, it might be next year, if not it might by the following year.

“It will happen for her – she’s too good of a player, to good of a competitor not to have the opportunity. I do think it’s just a matter of time.

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“I still see Aryna [Sabalenka] as one of the big frontrunners as well. To defend her Australian Open title, and she has been really dominant as well. For me it is them two – I think they are the best two players right now.”

Outside of her latest Roland Garros win, all of Swiatek’s other titles this season have been at WTA 1000 level, highlighting her dominance over the rest of the field.

Konta believes that the Pole’s biggest strength is her ability to continue making massive improvements despite the pressure of being followed by the chasing pack.

And the three-time Slam semi-finalist believes that Swiatek’s epic round two clash against Naomi Osaka at the French Open – where she saved a match point – helped her ease nerves and handle pressure throughout the rest of the event.

She added: “I think what Iga has done so tremendously well is keep improving while she is at the top.

“She has continued to evolve as a player, and shown maturity on court, and because she’s been able to do that she’s been able to stay so dominant – which is reasonably unique for us on the women’s side.

“We haven’t seen someone this dominant for some time. It’s an incredible achievement but I’ve just been so impressed with how she has continued to evolve.

“I remember the year in 2016 when Angie Kerber won the Australian Open, she was match point down in the first round. Caroline Wozniacki, when she won the Australian Open, she was match point down in one of her early round matches.

“That is not an uncommon thing to happen but it probably did her a lot of favours to have such a tight battle, to overcome something so difficult and stressful in one of the early matches, because it probably played out a lot of the nerves you ultimately always have in Grand Slams.

“She continues to just get better and better.”