Iga Swiatek is "much harder" to defeat than Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, claims Karolina Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova recently discussed how Iga Świątek is more challenging to beat than Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Plíšková, who turned pro in 2009, has competed against both legendary players, before their retirements, and Swiatek on the WTA tour.

Serena Williams retired in 2022, while Maria Sharapova retired in 2020, leaving behind illustrious careers. In a recent interview with Tennis Gazette, Plíšková reflected on her experiences playing against Williams, noting that the 23-time Grand Slam champion struggled when facing fast players and those with strong serves.

“Serena didn’t like players which are playing fast and serving well, so I felt like she was struggling a little bit with my game, Even the matches which I lost to her, I felt like it was even, you know, she would never kind of guilt me like she did some players. Then once of course like I beat her, I always had the belief that, okay, I can beat her.” Pliskova said

The Czech star also mentioned that facing Iga Świątek is more challenging because the Pole rarely gives away easy points or makes unforced errors and is highly disciplined in her play. In contrast, with their more aggressive styles, Pliskova believes that Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were more prone to making errors and offering opponents easier opportunities to win points.

“To play against Iga Swiatek is much harder because she doesn’t give you anything. With Serena, in the end her game was much more aggressive or like [Maria] Sharapova who I played. But they would at least give you light points or make some mistakes.

“I feel like Iga Swiatek is not so aggressive but she really gives you nothing and she doesn’t even have one dip where she would have like one bad game, at least in the matches where I played her,” Karolina Pliskova said

Karolina Pliskova’s Record Against Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Iga Świątek

Karolina Pliskova at the Cincinnati Open 2024 - Source: Getty

Karolina Pliskova faced Serena Williams four times while she faced Maria Sharapova twice before they retired.

Williams defeated Pliskova in their first meeting during the second round of the 2014 Bank of the West Classic. Pliskova got her revenge in the semifinal of the 2016 US Open. They faced each other again at the same tournament two years later, with Williams emerging victorious. Their most recent encounter was at the Australian Open, where Williams won their quarterfinal match.

Karolina Pliskova lost both of her matches against Maria Sharapova. The Russian clinched a win at the 2015 Billie Jean King Cup and also in the third round of the 2018 French Open.

Pliskova and World No.1 Iga Świątek have played each other thrice, with the latter winning all their meetings. Their first clash was in the final of the 2021 Italian Open, where Świątek delivered a double bagel. They also faced each other in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Stuttgart Open and the second round of the 2023 National Bank Open.