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Iga Świątek is morę used to handing out bagels than swallowing them, but one player has the recipe.
Oon the WTA side, the ever quixotic Jelena ( aka Alona aka Penko) Ostapenko remains undefeated, now 6-0 against Iga Swiatek, winning their Stuttgart semifinal in a great example of how much matchups matter in tennis. Iga has arguably the best forehand in tennis, at least on clay. But Ostapenko's go-for-broke, hard flat strokes turn Iga's strength into a liability. Swiatek simply can’t overwhelm Penko like she does almost anyone else. As we've noted before, Iga has no defensive forehand. So, when Ostapenko rushes Iga, her angles are gone, and Iga can't bully her on serve or return, even on clay. Note: Stuttgart is indoors where timing Ostapenko's shots is easier. No wind, no sun. I suspect it would be harder to repeat at Roland Garros.
Oon the WTA side, the ever quixotic Jelena ( aka Alona aka Penko) Ostapenko remains undefeated, now 6-0 against Iga Swiatek, winning their Stuttgart semifinal in a great example of how much matchups matter in tennis. Iga has arguably the best forehand in tennis, at least on clay. But Ostapenko's go-for-broke, hard flat strokes turn Iga's strength into a liability. Swiatek simply can’t overwhelm Penko like she does almost anyone else. As we've noted before, Iga has no defensive forehand. So, when Ostapenko rushes Iga, her angles are gone, and Iga can't bully her on serve or return, even on clay. Note: Stuttgart is indoors where timing Ostapenko's shots is easier. No wind, no sun. I suspect it would be harder to repeat at Roland Garros.
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