Jim Courier has provided some key advice for Iga Swiatek ahead of the Wimbledon final, seeking to tell her what he feels she needs to hear.
Clearly surrounded by good people who have led her to some incredible triumphs, the former world number one has endured a tough 2025 by her standards, extending her trophy drought to beyond 12 months.
And, in failing to win the French Open, many began to really worry for her chances heading into the grass-court season, which she famously has not enjoyed in the past.
Yet here we are, awaiting Saturday’s Wimbledon final between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova with huge interest.
Some might argue that the five-time major champion needs no advice at this stage, yet Courier has still sought to provide it at this crucial moment.
Jim Courier has crucial advice for Iga Swiatek ahead of the Wimbledon final
Offering his insight to Swiatek on Tennis Channel last night, the three-time Grand Slam champion suggested exactly what he’d be saying were he in the camp of the 24-year-old ahead of the Wimbledon final.
Courier claimed: “Well, if I’m on team Iga, what I’m telling her is, you’ve already played players that play like Amanda in this tournament, and you’ve played great when you beat Danielle Collins, and you’ll beat Clara Tauson, two players that just rip the cover off the ball and come at you on the forehand and the backhand, so you are ready.
“The player that’s challenged her the most, Caty McNally, the American who’s got more variety in her game. She’s the only player to take a set off her, so I think the positive reinforcement would be like, You’re playing great.
“Go out there and let it fly. You’re more experienced. I don’t think they’ve played before.
This would be the first meeting. So there’ll be a learning curve early on, but in a way, she’s already faced very similar players to what Amanda’s gonna bring.”
Swiatek admitted she’d surprised herself with her Wimbledon run, but will hope to head into the final full of confidence in her ability to maintain such form.
Iga Swiatek’s road to the Wimbledon final
Given how many seeds fell in the early rounds of this year’s Wimbledon, Swiatek’s road to the final has been easier than most.
However, you have to beat what is put in front of you, and she deserves credit for not being one of those high-profile scalps that underwhelmed at the All-England Club.
She began her crusade to the final against Polina Kudermetova, a tricky opponent, but one she swept aside in straight sets.
Next up came Caty McNally, which has undoubtedly been the toughest match of her run thus far. Losing the first set to the tricky American, Swiatek rallied to win the next two, before then delivering a statement victory in the third round as she crushed Danielle Collins.
It really felt like, after this result, things changed for the Polish superstar. The narrative had shifted, and she even admitted it to, stating that at last the ball was ‘listening’ to her on grass.
Swiatek’s last three matches since have been a breeze, brushing aside an ill Clara Tauson and Liudmila Samsonova before crushing Belinda Bencic in Thursday’s semi-final.
Anisimova poses the toughest test yet, with her thunderous ball-striking a threat for any opponent.
However, Swiatek should feel buoyed by her run, and this is a match that really could go either way.
