In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, where every point is a battle and every practice a proving ground, Iga Swiatek stands out as a force of nature. The Polish superstar, a five-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1, has long been celebrated for her dominance on the court. But it’s her off-court work ethic that has left an indelible mark on German player Eva Lys, who recently shared a jaw-dropping account of training alongside Swiatek. In a candid conversation on the *What The Vlog* YouTube channel, hosted by WTA star Daria Kasatkina, Lys revealed the staggering intensity Swiatek brings to practice, describing it as “the craziest intensity” she’s ever witnessed.
The encounter took place during a training session in Dubai, where Lys, a rising talent ranked 128th in the world, had the chance to warm up with Swiatek at a WTA 1000 event. From the first ball, Lys was struck by the Pole’s relentless focus and competitive fire. “I warmed up with Iga once in Dubai,” Lys recalled, her tone a mix of awe and exhaustion. The session, meant to be a routine warm-up, felt like a high-stakes match. Swiatek’s approach was uncompromising, her every move infused with the same precision and drive that has earned her multiple Roland Garros titles and a reputation as one of tennis’s fiercest competitors. Lys admitted feeling drained after just the warm-up, a testament to the extraordinary dedication Swiatek pours into her craft.
Swiatek’s intensity is no secret to those who follow her career. At 23, she has already cemented her legacy with a 6-0 set record in 87 matches, including a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lys herself at the 2025 Australian Open. That match, part of Swiatek’s march to the quarter-finals, showcased her ability to overwhelm opponents with surgical precision. “I’m still 23 years old, so there is a lot to improve always,” Swiatek said post-match, her humility underscoring her hunger for growth. “I don’t feel like I’m in my peak yet, but matches like that definitely give me confidence. I feel like I’m playing a good game.” Her performance in Melbourne, where she dropped just 11 games across four matches, highlighted her dominance, even as she adapts to the unique challenges of the Australian Open’s hard courts.
Lys, reflecting on their Dubai practice, marveled at how Swiatek’s intensity mirrors her match-play demeanor. “Their intensity blew me away from the first second,” Lys had said after facing Swiatek in a 2022 Stuttgart match, where she was defeated 6-1, 6-1. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Lys fought to the end, earning praise for her resilience. “When you come out on the pitch as a passionate player, as a player who really wants to achieve something, you should try to fight to the last ball,” she said, echoing Swiatek’s own philosophy of relentless effort. That shared practice session in Dubai revealed the gap between good and great, with Swiatek’s work ethic setting a benchmark for what it takes to reach the sport’s pinnacle.
The narrative of Swiatek’s intensity comes at a pivotal moment in her career. After a semifinal loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Roland Garros, Swiatek is navigating a title drought of over a year, her last major triumph coming in 2024. Yet her hunger remains undiminished. “I usually didn’t feel comfortable at the Australian Open with my game,” she admitted, noting that 2025 felt different. “This year it’s a bit better. So I’m just enjoying being on the court and off the court as well.” Her ability to maintain focus, even after a bagel set, is a point of pride. “I’m aware that this can happen, so I’m just trying to react before and not wait for my mind to, like, go to some different places,” she explained, emphasizing her commitment to consistency.
For Lys, the Dubai session was a masterclass in what separates the elite from the rest. Her own journey has been one of perseverance, highlighted by her historic run as a lucky loser to the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open. “I’ve had a lot of nights where I was actually talking to my parents, often with tears, asking, ‘When will the time come?’” Lys shared, reflecting on her struggles. Her breakthrough in Melbourne, where she upset players like Jaqueline Cristian, was a testament to her potential, even if Swiatek’s dominance cut her fairytale short. “Everything just came down to this week where on one side it’s definitely the tennis I played, but also it was the luck in the beginning,” she said, acknowledging the role of fortune in her journey.
As Swiatek prepares for the grass-court season, her intensity remains a beacon for aspiring players like Lys. The German’s admiration for Swiatek underscores the grueling demands of professional tennis, where practice sessions can be as punishing as Grand Slam finals. With the WTA circuit heating up, Swiatek’s relentless drive continues to inspire and intimidate, setting the stage for her next bid at glory.
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