Iga Swiatek, the world No. 2 and reigning French Open champion, kicked off her 2025 clay court season with a commanding performance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, on April 17, 2025. The Polish tennis sensation stormed into the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 event with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over qualifier Jana Fett, showcasing the controlled aggression that has made her a dominant force on clay. Yet, in her post-match press conference, Swiatek candidly revealed a personal goal: mastering the elusive drop shot, a technique she admires in ATP world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz but admits is far from perfected in her own game.
Swiatek’s match against Fett was a masterclass in precision and adaptability. Benefiting from a first-round bye, she entered the round of 16 with confidence, quickly asserting her dominance on Stuttgart’s indoor clay. The 23-year-old broke Fett’s serve early in the first set, leveraging her powerful forehand and exceptional court coverage to dictate play. By the second set, Swiatek had found her rhythm, holding serve with authority and breaking Fett once more to seal the match in just over an hour. Her first-serve win percentage soared to 81%, a marked improvement from her recent loss to Alexandra Eala in Miami, where she struggled with a 47% first-serve win rate.
Reflecting on her transition to clay, Swiatek acknowledged the challenges of adapting after a hard court-heavy season. “It’s still a challenge because it’s not like I come to play and everything is perfect suddenly,” she said. “We play on a hard court most of the year, so coming to clay court I still need some time to adjust.” This year, however, Swiatek benefited from a calmer preparation period, allowing her to fine-tune her game. “I was able to do it a little bit calmer and I’m happy that I had a chance to do that,” she added, emphasizing her optimism for the clay season ahead.
The conversation in Stuttgart, however, took an intriguing turn when Swiatek was asked about incorporating drop shots into her arsenal. Known for her baseline dominance and relentless topspin, Swiatek admitted that the finesse of a drop shot—executed with the effortless flair of Carlos Alcaraz—remains a work in progress. “I always wanted to do that, but for sure the technique isn’t perfect yet,” she confessed. “If I haven’t been doing that since I’m a kid, like Carlos, for example, then it’s a bit harder to force it, you know, later on.” Her lone attempt at a drop shot against Fett went awry, but Swiatek’s determination to improve was clear. “I want to try because this is the only way to learn how to do that,” she said, highlighting her commitment to evolving her game.
Swiatek’s admiration for Alcaraz, the 2024 French Open men’s champion, underscores the Spaniard’s influence on the sport. Alcaraz, renowned for his dynamic play and deft drop shots, has used the tactic to outmaneuver opponents since his junior days. Swiatek’s acknowledgment of his mastery reflects her humility and willingness to draw inspiration from peers, even as she dominates the women’s game with five Grand Slam titles. Her collaboration with coach Wim Fissette has also focused on refining other aspects, such as serve placement, which she believes is key to earning crucial points. “Placement, I think this is something that I want to be better at, because I feel like this is what gives us points,” she noted.
As Swiatek prepares for her quarterfinal clash against either Emma Navarro or Jelena Ostapenko, she faces a critical juncture in her clay season. Navarro holds a 0-2 record against Swiatek, while Ostapenko has won all five of their previous encounters, making the matchup a potential hurdle. A victory could set up a semifinal against Jessica Pegula or Mirra Andreeva, with top seed Aryna Sabalenka looming in the draw. Stuttgart, where the champion wins a Porsche Macan Turbo Electric, is a prestigious stop on the WTA tour, and Swiatek, who reached the semifinals in 2024, is eager to claim her first title there.
Swiatek’s Stuttgart performance signals her readiness to defend her 4,195 ranking points across the clay season, including titles in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros. Despite a challenging start to 2025, marked by a semifinal loss at the Australian Open and an upset in Miami, her return to clay—a surface where she boasts an 80% win rate—offers a chance to reset. Her mental resilience, honed with psychologist Daria Abramowicz, and her technical adjustments with Fissette position her as a formidable contender.
As Swiatek continues her quest for a third consecutive French Open title, her pursuit of a Carlos Alcaraz-like drop shot adds a layer of intrigue to her journey. With her trademark intensity and a renewed focus on versatility, Swiatek is not just defending her throne on clay but striving to redefine her game. Stuttgart is just the beginning, and the tennis world is watching to see if she can add a new weapon to her already formidable arsenal.