Wimbledon: 'Iga has to play at least 80 to 90 per cent of her best tennis,' says Amritraj after defending champion's nervy start
New Delhi, July 2
Former India Davis Cup captain Vijay Amritraj believes defending champion Iga Swiatek will need to produce close to her best tennis to keep her Wimbledon 2026 title defence on track, while also backing Indian doubles players Yuki Bhambri and N. Sriram Balaji to make deep runs at the All England Club.
Speaking ahead of the second-round action at Wimbledon, Amritraj assessed Swiatek's challenge against Karolina Pliskova and expressed confidence in India's doubles prospects if both pairs continue their recent form. Previewing her clash against former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, he said the Pole would benefit significantly from navigating difficult early-round encounters as she attempts to defend her crown.
"At the moment, it's very important for Swiatek to win these tight matches because it gets her mentally prepared for tough situations," Amritraj told JioStar.
Amritraj noted that the expectations surrounding a defending champion add another layer of difficulty, making every close contest valuable in building momentum.
"She is the defending champion, so the pressure is on her, and the target is on her back. Winning these close matches is going to help her a lot, especially in the first week. If she comes through these couple of matches, I think she's looking at going deep into the second week," he added.
Despite Swiatek's unbeaten head-to-head record against Pliskova, the former Indian player warned that the Czech remains a dangerous opponent with little to lose. "Pliskova has nothing to lose in this match, and that's the tough part for Swiatek. Although she's 3-0 up in their head-to-head record, Pliskova is a heck of a player."
Amritraj believes Swiatek cannot afford to fall below her usual standards if she wants to extend that record, as he said, "I believe Swiatek has to play at least 80 to 90 per cent of her best tennis to pull this off and make it 4-0. But, at the end of the day, Pliskova has an outside chance."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm tired of all these '80-90%' claims. Every top player has off days, and Swiatek has proven she can win even when not at her best. Her mental game is incredible. More importantly, why doesn't Indian tennis news focus on developing our grassroots instead of just hyping doubles players every Wimbledon? 🙄
Good analysis by Amritraj. Swiatek did look a bit nervy in her first match - those double faults were worrying. But she's a champion for a reason. And yaar, it's great to see Indian doubles players getting recognition. Yuki Bhambri has been through so many injuries, it's nice to see him playing at this level again. 👏
As a tennis fan from Mumbai, I've always admired Amritraj's commentary. He's right about the pressure on defending champions. But I'd argue Swiatek's biggest challenge isn't Pliskova - it's her own inconsistency on grass. The surface doesn't suit her topspin-heavy game as much as clay. Let's see if she can adapt!
One thing I've noticed: Indian tennis journalists always go to Amritraj for quotes, but what about younger voices? We need fresh perspectives. That said, I agree with his assessment - Swiatek needs to be sharp. Pliskova's serve can trouble anyone on grass. And fingers crossed for our doubles players! 🤞
I appreciate Amritraj's balanced take - he's not blindly supporting
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