Iga Świątek names 'game changer' as women's tennis evolves

(Getty/Robert Prange)

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek believes that the upcoming 2026 WTA season is anyone's to dominate, as the gap continues to narrow.

Świątek, who has held the No.1 ranking for a total of 125 weeks, broke her 14-month major drought by winning her first Wimbledon title earlier this year.

HEAD has partnered with the Kooyong Classic for 2026. HEAD will be on-site with all their latest products, including the launch of the new Revolt Pro 5.0. Visit the HEAD tents at the Kooyong Classic from 13-15th January to do a fit test on the new Revolt Pros.

Having already claimed four Roland-Garros titles, Świątek is considered the current queen of clay, and rightly so.

But her three-set semi-final loss against Aryna Sabalenka in Paris' 2025 edition, plus periods of inconsistency, is evidence that the women's game remains unpredictable.

"I think the level we're all at got more equal. I think you could see that, especially during the WTA finals, basically, any of us could win this tournament; we really played a lot of tight matches," Świątek told CLAY, also published by RG Media.

"There are some players that obviously prefer some conditions or others who feel better in this or that part of the season… but I think overall we all are getting better in a really fast way.

"If I would serve, like, 185 kilometres per hour three years ago, I think it would be a game changer, and it would be amazing, but now (that) I actually learned to do that, I realised that girls are serving 195. It's obviously not only about the speed. It is just an example, but I think tennis is evolving and we're all presenting a pretty good level now."

The 24-year-old begins her Australian summer by representing Poland at the United Cup, where she hopes her nation can go one better than the most recent tournament.

Just like Carlos Alcaraz on the men's side, Świątek is bidding to reach her maiden Australian Open final, after falling short at the semi-final stage in 2022 and 2025.

Click here to read CLAY's full article.

The Kooyong Classic returns to the spiritual home of Australian tennis from January 13-15, 2026.

Each year, the Kooyong Classic features the world's best players in their final preparation for the Australian Open. 

The 2026 event will feature Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Bublik, Nick Kyrgios, Karen Khachanov, Flavio Cobolli, Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Matteo Berrettini, Hubert Hurkacz, Marin Čilić and Zhang Zhizhen, alongside Donna Vekić and a special guest appearance Daniela Hantuchová. More to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets on sale now through Ticketek/www.kooyongclassic.com.au

Hospitality packages can be viewed on the Kooyong Classic website and purchased by contacting info@kooyongclassic.com.au.