Image Source: Charlie Eccleshare,Matthew Futterman,James Hansen
Key Takeaways:
- Iga Świątek is working to transition from an all-out aggressive style to a more counterpunching approach, but it’s a challenging process.
- Ukrainian women’s tennis players, such as Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina, are making statements on and off the court, with Kostyuk speaking out about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s exhibition match in South Korea was a success, with both players enjoying themselves and putting on a show for the crowd.
- Early-season tennis can be unpredictable, with players still finding their form and adjusting to the new season.
- Several players, including Alexander Bublik and Daniil Medvedev, are looking to build on their recent successes and make a strong start to the year.
Introduction to the Week in Tennis
The world of tennis is always full of excitement and intrigue, and this week was no exception. From Iga Świątek’s ongoing quest to find her ideal playing style to the impressive performances of Ukrainian women’s tennis players, there was no shortage of storylines to follow. As Świątek herself noted, "I see my game every day… It’s hard to see the changes because they’re little. I know. They only seem big on a bigger horizon." This quote highlights the challenges she is facing in her transition to a more counterpunching approach.
wiątek’s Style Evolution
Iga Świątek, the current greatest player since Serena Williams, is in the process of transitioning from an all-out aggressive style to a more counterpunching approach. This change is not easy, as Świątek has been playing with an aggressive mindset for a long time, and it’s hard for her to break free from her ingrained habits. As she said, "I kind of knew what I was doing wrong. I don’t know, I was stuck in doing it wrong rather than actually solving it." Świątek’s coach, Wim Fissette, is helping her to make this transition, and they are working together to bring back the aggressive, counterpunching style that defined her first years of dominance on the WTA Tour.
Ukrainian Women’s Tennis
Ukrainian women’s tennis players are making a statement on and off the court. Marta Kostyuk, who reached the final of the Brisbane International, spoke out about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, saying, "I play every day with pain in my heart. There are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now. It’s -20 degrees outside. It’s very painful to live this reality every day." Elina Svitolina, the highest-ranked Ukrainian player, won the Auckland Open, her first title since April, and said, "It feels amazing to win another title, especially after a not very pleasant end of the year for me. That break really helped me to regroup and come back with a new energy."
Alcaraz and Sinner’s Exhibition Match
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s exhibition match in South Korea was a success, with both players enjoying themselves and putting on a show for the crowd. The match was a rare opportunity for tennis fans in South Korea to watch leading male players, and it did not disappoint. Alcaraz and Sinner explored every angle of the court, hit slice rallies, and played up to the exercise in joviality that an exhibition should represent. As Alcaraz said, "It’s always great to play against Jannik, he’s a great player and a great person."
Early-Season Tennis
Early-season tennis can be unpredictable, with players still finding their form and adjusting to the new season. Hubert Hurkacz, who played 26 matches in 2025 before having surgery on his right knee, returned to the court and played to his career-high ranking of No. 6. Taylor Fritz, who had right-knee tendinopathy, discussed how his off-season was curtailed, and his matches were more valuable for getting on court than forecasting his year ahead. As Fritz noted, "It’s not easy to stop the season early, but sometimes you need to make one step back to make two, three steps forward."
Rising Stars and Rankings
Several players are looking to build on their recent successes and make a strong start to the year. Alexander Bublik moved into the top 10 for the first time after beating Lorenzo Musetti in the final of the Hong Kong Tennis Open. Wang Xinyu ascended 14 places from No. 57 to No. 43 after her run to the final of the Auckland Open. Iva Jović rose from No. 33 to No. 30, a new career-high ranking and inside the seeding cut-off for the Australian Open. As Bublik said, "I’m happy to be in the top 10, it’s a great achievement for me and my team."
Conclusion
In conclusion, this week in tennis was marked by exciting matches, impressive performances, and thought-provoking storylines. From Świątek’s style evolution to the success of Ukrainian women’s tennis players, there was no shortage of interesting developments to follow. As the Australian Open approaches, players are gearing up for the first Grand Slam of the year, and fans are eagerly anticipating the action to come. With the likes of Alcaraz, Sinner, and Bublik looking to make a strong start to the year, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season of tennis.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6945912/2026/01/12/tennis-iga-swiatek-game-australian-open/