Iga Swiatek will benefit from not carrying the "pressure" of being the next Steffi Graf or Serena Williams, believes Mats Wilander

Swedish tennis great Mats Wilander recently said that World No. 1 Iga Swiatek would benefit from not having the "pressure" of being the next Steffi Graf or Serena Williams.

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. She also 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 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.

In light of Iga Swiatek's form, Mats Wilander told Eurosport that it's "great" for the Pole not to be subjected to the "pressure" of being the next Steffi Graf or Serena Williams.

Wilander thinks that, as a result, Swiatek will be able to play more freely on different types of surfaces.

"I think kind of the other way of what people are saying. I think it's great for Iga to not be carrying around this pressure of being this next Graf or Serena that's going to just dominate on all the different surfaces," Wilander said.

"Maybe she will struggle on the grass court, maybe struggle on a fast hard court, maybe against one style of player that can hit the ball hard," he added.

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"She's a great player, a great champion, but she's a human" - Mats Wilander on Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek pictured at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open - Day 2.

Mats Wilander went on to say that while Iga Swiatek has the potential to win more Grand Slam titles, she is still a human being. Also, her showing "frustration" and "weakness" is just a part of who she is today.

"She's a great player, she's a great champion, she's going to win lots of Grand Slams in my book. But she's a human," Wilander said.

"I think that she's showing certain weaknesses in terms of mentality, certain frustrations, and if she doesn't show that, she wouldn't be the player that she is. So I think everything is very healthy for her," he added.

Iga Swiatek will next play in the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells to defend her title. The Pole will kick off her campaign at the WTA 1000 tournament against American Claire Liu.