Women’s tennis star trains with tape over mouth to leave fans completely baffled

Tennis star Iga Swiatek left fans and experts alike confused as she showed off her new training technique.

The 22-year-old is the world number one ranked female tennis player, but she’s seemingly setting new standards from the top after she was spotted training with tape stuck across her mouth. Swiatek is preparing for the Canadian Open, where she will face former Wimbledon finalist and Czech national Karolina Pliskova in the round of 32 on Wednesday.

But her bizarre training method had everyone from tennis experts to nutritionists andconfused fans debating the reason behind the tape.

Health and nutrition writer Jeffrey Boadi gave his reasons on Twitter, saying: “Lower lactic acid levels, increased lactate threshold, and less inflammation through reduced white blood cell count – just some of the benefits of nasal-only breathing. Efficient breathing will equal better performance.”

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One reply read: “Also mental benefits. Will raise HR quicker during training, so can train shorter and have similar tiredness feeling as after 2h match with limited injury risk.”

But one fan seemed to know the exact reason behind the bizarre look, revealing on Twitter that Swiatek was “training for nose-breathing.”

Do you think more tennis players should train like this? Let us know in the comments section.

The apparent expert said: “It's a more efficient and effective method of oxygen delivery to the body's muscles, whoever has her training this way is smart tbh. They're aiming for maximum endurance and knowing Iga, she'll get there.”

And soon enough the answer came from Swiatek herself as she revealed that the theory on Twitter was actually the reason, although she admitted she’s unsure what the benefits are in the experimental technique.

She said: “It's harder to breathe when you are only breathing through your nose and it is easier for my heart rate to go up – but I am not going to be able to explain it properly because I am not an expert.”

Swiatek is looking to kick on from her French Open victory in June, having also lifted the Polish Open on home soil a week before heading to Canada.

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