NEW SENSATION

IGA Swiatek of Poland is women’s tennis new sensation. The way she dominated women’s singles section at the French Open showed not just her class but also her preparation. At such a young age, and right in the debute into a Grand Slam, she showed her superior stroke-play and a better mind-control. Women’s tennis will have some one to look to for long years from now on. Of course, tennis has thrown up many such sensationally-gifted players from time to time.

Just a couple of years ago, Japan’s Naomi Osaka also exploded onto the scene defeating her idol Serena Williams. In the men’s section, too, many such players sprang to eminence. Some of them -- men and women -- stayed on in the top league, while most faded into lower layers of excellence. But when they first burst into public glare, all those players looked like the ultimate expression of greatness in early stages -- with their nimble court-craft, with their sense of focus, with their ability to learn while playing, with their dedication to making a difference! Iga Swiatek is one such -- with a tremendous promise, with a terrific future -- provided she manages to stick to her own array of skills and stays afloat in the intense competition where mercy is a word erased from the lexicon. In that cut-throat zone, what lasts is not just the skill but also endurance with multiple facets. Of course, it was sheer pleasure to watch Iga Swiatek shape her victories without dropping a single set along the way to the one-sided final.

And more endearing was the smile on her young face that got contorted for split-seconds during a rally or while returning a serve. And when she said, she was very happy and repeated the statement tinged with a polite pride, everybody noticed the innocence in her tone. May that endure through time. May that last forever -- so that she will rise to the eminence and excellence of a Serena Williams (who is still around strong enough to be an eternal contender to crown). A similar feeling emerged in the tennis fans’ minds when Naomi Osaka, too, made her appearance winning the US Open two years ago. Her promise still endures, but there is a little waning of intensity, a little willingness to let go. Many other young sensations have scripted similar stories. May that not happen to Iga Swiatek.

True, tennis is a no-nonsense proposition where only excellence serves its own purpose -- like in any other sport. But the cruelty with which promise of greatness is demolished by rivals is something very special to tennis. To endure near the top, thus, becomes a challenge that only a handful few can handle. There could be umpteen genuine reasons why the decline sets in early on. But when one competes at that awesome height, all one has to take care is to protect and preserve one’s skills and blessings. And that is one proposition not easy to handle for most. In Iga Swiatek’s case, may this not happen. Of course, it did not happen in Monica Seles’ case, too, many 25-30 years ago, but fate felled her most brutally. As Iga Swiatek blasts onto the top league of women’s tennis, memories of Monica Seles well up in the mind. It appears, Iga has a near-similar set of skills and blessings -- and of course her own luck.