Australian Open: Iga Swiatek - "Will always have the perfectionist part"
Iga Swiatek is reaching for her first major title Down Under at the Australian Open 2023. Previously, the Pole spoke about what it means to find the right balance in tennis.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Jan 14, 2023, 05:01 pm
Somehow you get the feeling that the situation for women and men at this year's Australian Open is almost identical. Both in the men's tableau and among the 128 qualified women, there is one name that towers over the rest. And who - as of now - is considered the most likely designated title winner at the first major event of the year. Of course we are talking about Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek.
For the latter, the Grand Slam in Melbourne is something special, after all there is no other season in which you can start in such good shape. "It's the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, which makes things easier in terms of fitness because we should arrive fresher. I've always felt better prepared for long matches and can work harder," said Swiatek im During the Media Day. In Melbourne, the world number one would like to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner Ash Barty.
Swiatek and the balance
On the other hand, the conditions at the Happy Slam are very special - and often not easy to control. "The conditions are different, the courts are faster, timing is the most important thing," said the world number one. Who didn't focus on big changes in the pre-season, but on the consistency factor. And I borrowed from the greats of the sport: "I don't think that top players who have been constant throughout their careers, like Novak, have changed a lot in recent years."
According to Swiatek, what counts is consistently playing your best game. And that's what we worked towards in the preparation. But that also includes dealing with difficult phases in matches: "I will always have this perfectionist part in me. If I feel uncomfortable on the pitch, it's difficult not to be hard on myself," said Swiatek. "The most important thing is to find your balance on the pitch. I want to make sure that the things that happen on training days don't affect my state of mind." If Swiatek finds it in the next 14 days, the Pole will be incredibly difficult to beat. Already in lap one Jule Niemeier squinted to prove the opposite.