Iga Swiatek, the 24-year-old Polish tennis sensation, is on the cusp of reclaiming the world No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings, according to Rick Macci, the renowned coach who once guided Serena Williams to greatness. Following a challenging 2025 season marked by a dip in form and a drop to No. 8 in the rankings, Swiatek’s dominant Wimbledon triumph in July has reignited her campaign. Macci, a pivotal figure in the early development of both Serena and Venus Williams, believes Swiatek’s mental fortitude and recent grass-court success signal a return to the top. “It will happen sooner than later as Iga will again be number one on the planet because her mind is made of granite,” Macci declared, emphasizing her unyielding championship mentality.
Swiatek’s 2025 season began with turbulence. After losing her No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka in October 2024, she faced setbacks, including a one-month doping suspension due to inadvertent exposure to a contaminated medical product. Her clay-court dominance, where she had won four French Open titles, faltered with a quarterfinal exit in Stuttgart, a semifinal loss to Coco Gauff in Madrid, and a shocking third-round defeat to Danielle Collins in Rome. “Clay is her second home but mentally checked out in Madrid and Rome,” Macci noted, suggesting that these losses reflected a mental dip rather than a decline in skill. Her French Open title defense ended in the semifinals against Sabalenka, who delivered a 6-0 third-set bagel, pushing Swiatek’s ranking to its lowest point since 2021.
Yet, Swiatek’s resilience shone through at Wimbledon, where she claimed her sixth Grand Slam title and first on grass, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in a historic 57-minute final. “Iga is one of the best we have seen mentally since Serena,” Macci said, comparing her to the 23-time Grand Slam champion. “At Wimbledon, once she got a hold of you, she was like a Polish Pitbull and would not let go.” This victory, her 23rd WTA Tour-level singles title, marked her as the second-youngest woman to win majors on all three surfaces, following Serena Williams. It also propelled her to No. 3 in the WTA rankings, setting the stage for a potential climb back to the top.
Macci’s bold prediction hinges on Swiatek’s favorable position in the rankings race. With fewer points to defend at the upcoming US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year, and strong performances in the Canadian Open and Cincinnati, Swiatek has a clear path to overtake Sabalenka, who holds a 4,000-point lead. “Not a lot of points to defend and the Polish Punisher will be number one by year’s end,” Macci asserted, pointing to her 42-11 win-loss record in 2025 and her ability to rebound from adversity. Her new coach, Wim Fissette, has introduced a style of controlled aggression, which paid dividends at Wimbledon, where she dropped just one set and secured her 100th major match win, the fastest since Serena Williams.
Swiatek’s mental strength, likened by Macci to Serena’s, has been her defining trait. “What Iga accomplished on a surface that in the past was not her best friend shows the unique wiring of a true champion,” he said, referencing her grass-court breakthrough after a runner-up finish in Bad Homburg. Her ability to deliver a rare double-bagel in a Grand Slam final, a feat not seen since Steffi Graf in 1988, underscores her dominance when at her best. As she prepares for the North American hard-court swing, including the Canadian Open starting July 27, Swiatek’s focus remains unwavering. “Iga controls Iga,” Macci emphasized, urging her to channel Jannik Sinner’s positivity to stay mentally strong.
With the US Open looming on August 24, Swiatek’s resurgence has sparked excitement. Her 6-0 record in major finals, tying Monica Seles for the second-longest streak in the Open Era, and her status as the eighth woman to win majors on all three surfaces position her among tennis’ elite. Macci’s faith in her ability to reclaim the No. 1 ranking reflects her proven track record—125 weeks as world No. 1, 11 WTA 1000 titles, and over $36 million in career prize money. As Swiatek navigates this pivotal moment, her granite-like mindset and championship DNA make her a formidable contender to dominate women’s tennis once again.
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