The transition from clay to grass in the three-week period between the French Open and Wimbledon is notoriously difficult. Figuring out how to peak at both Roland Garros and SW19 is a skill that takes years to master, and the short interlude only heightens the pressure that players face when they are forced to adjust to the new bounce and configure their movement on the starkly different surface.
Last year, Iga Swiatek arrived at Wimbledon on the back of a 35-match win streak and as the dominant force at the top of women’s tennis, but admitted she allowed the unique challenge grass presents to throw her off her game. A thigh injury that limited her preparation time even further did not help the 22-year-old’s confidence or mentality to attack the competition. Swiatek looked uncomfortable on the grass from her opening match and in the end it was not great surprise that a wily opponent such as Alize Cornet claimed the upset in only the third round.
