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Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, along with the co-hosts of their podcasts, had only Iga Swiatek's name in mind when it came to being a creature of habit. On the latest episode of The Player's Box Podcast, Pegula, Keys, Jennifer Brady, and Desirae Krawczyk indulged in a quick game of rapid fire.
When Keys quizzed her co-hosts regarding who was the most superstitious on the tour, Pegula was quick to respond with Swiatek's name. The other three shared her sentiment as well and nodded in agreement.
"Who's the most superstitious with routines?" asked Keys.
"Iga. Super routines," Pegula said.
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Swiatek's pre-match routine incorporates the usual mobility exercises, along with hand-eye co-ordination drills. She's also frequently seen practicing shadow swings, immediately before she enters the court and before the start of a match. She even indulges in it while between points, and famously did the same against Keys earlier this year.
The two were locked in an engrossing battle in the semifinals of the Australian Open. The match entered a deciding set, and while Keys was stepping up to serve, Swiatek caused a slight delay by doing short sprints and shadow swings. It ultimately didn't help her cause as the American responded with an ace.
Keys eventually saved a match point to beat Swiatek, and then toppled two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the final to claim her maiden Major title. However, she hasn't beaten either of them since her triumph Down Under. Her season also came to an unfortunate end due to her struggles with injury.
Madison Keys' career-best season got derailed due to an injury
Madison Keys started the year on a high, winning the title in Adelaide and riding this wave of momentum to emerge victorious at the Australian Open. Her winning ways eventually came to an end with a loss to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the Indian Wells Open.
Keys also made the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open and the French Open. However, the second half of the season wasn't as fruitful. She was upset in the first round of the US Open, and skipped the entire Asian swing due to an injury.
While Keys returned in time for the WTA Finals, she clearly wasn't at her best. After losing her first two matches of the group stage, she pulled out of the tournament. Nevertheless, she still managed to finish the season ranked No. 7, the best year-end ranking of her career.
