Iga Swiatek not almost a "machine" like Novak Djokovic but still the "player to beat": Chris Evert

Tennis legend Chris Evert recently stated that while Iga Swiatek is not a "machine" like Novak Djokovic, she is still the "player to beat" ahead of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Swiatek has had a mixed 2023 season so far after having a great 2022 season in which she reached her career-high ranking of World No. 1 and amassed a 37-match winning streak which included six title wins.

The Pole was defeated in the fourth round of the 2023 Australian Open by eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina. She then returned in February with a dominant week at the Qatar Open to win her first title of the year. However, she was defeated in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships by Barbora Krejcikova.

Chris Evert stated in an interview with Eurosport that although Iga Swiatek is a great athlete, her emotions have "broken down" in the matches she has lost this season.

"We know she has the game physically. We know she's a great competitor, and she's a great athlete. She's got wonderful tools, and a wonderful skill-set in tennis. But it seems like in the matches that she's lost, that emotional part has broken down," Evert said.

The 18-time Grand Slam winner then compared Swiatek to Novak Djokovic, saying that even though the Pole is not quite a "machine" like the Serb, she is still the player to beat and should work on controlling her emotions.

"[Novak] Djokovic is almost like a machine. He goes out there and, you know, he can just have that tunnel vision and focus and not let his emotions get in the way," Evert said.

"I think Iga [Swiatek] has shown in some matches that she has let her emotions get the best of her. So she would just have to be aware of that, I think. But she is still the player to beat, no matter what you say," she added.

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"I think she's playing better than ever" - Chris Evert on Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek pictured at the 2023 Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships.

Chris Evert went on to say that she believes Iga Swiatek is playing "better than ever." She added that while Swiatek may have a match where she is unable to give her all, she is still the most "dependable" and "consistent" player on the WTA tour right now.

"I think she's playing better than ever. That was obvious when she had that streak, she was just annihilating her opponents. Then she didn't play as well against Pegula and maybe didn't play as well against Krejcikova," Evert said.

"It's like every once in a while she's going to have a match where she's not 100%, but I still think she is the most dependable player and the most consistent out there," she added further.

Swiatek will next compete in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where she is the defending champion.