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WTA Toronto: Iga Swiatek attacks with 2019 memories

Iga Swiatek is the big favorite to win the tournament at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto. Also because she has good memories of the event in the Canadian metropolis.

by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Aug 07, 2022, 11:03 am

In 2019, Iga Swiatek was not one of the favorites in Toronto
© Getty Images
In 2019, Iga Swiatek was not one of the favorites in Toronto

Iga Swiatek is human. For a while it seemed almost inconceivable that the Pole would ever lose another match, but since her third-round loss to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon she has at least returned to the earthly world somewhat. This was also shown most recently at her home tournament in Warsaw, where the 21-year-old lost to Caroline Garcia in the quarter-finals. Nevertheless, the world number one is naturally also the absolute top favorite for the title at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, as her 37-game winning streak began on hard court in spring.

Swiatek has been unbeaten on this surface since mid-February, when she lost to Jelena Ostapenko in Dubai. On the one hand, this is of course due to the long clay court and slightly shorter grass season, but on the other hand it is also due to a sensational run that the Pole started in Doha and ended (for the time being) in Miami. In between she also won the title in Indian Wells. "I know there are many players who have done more, but I'm pretty proud of what I did in the first half of the season," said Swiatek ahead of the tournament in Toronto.

Swiatek: "Try not to think about what happened"

"I hope that I can play a little more freely because I don't have to prove anything," continued the reigning French Open winner. At the same time, however, she is aware that the number of successes this season has also increased expectations: "On the other hand, it can also put me under pressure, so I try not to think about what happened, but to prepare for what is to come."

Nevertheless, Swiatek also took a look into the past in Toronto. In 2019 she reached the round of 16 as an 18-year-old after main draw wins over Ajla Tomljanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, in which she narrowly lost 6: 7 (4) and 4: 6 to Naomi Osaka after a good performance. "These two matches against Caroline Wozniacki and Naomi made me feel like I could achieve something," said Swiatek.

Swiatek is tinkering with their game

"When I remember it, I see how much work I put in and how different I feel now. Back then I studied every training session and looked at how I was going to feel, who I could play against and who was too strong for me is," said Swiatek, looking back on the event three years ago. She's now the big hunted herself, but that doesn't stop the two-time Grand Slam winner from continuing to work on her tennis.

"I just hope that I don't just focus on winning, winning, winning because I also want to improve some things in my game," Swiatek explained. She worked on some aspects after the French Open and Wimbledon: "So I hope that I can implement these things." In any case, the start in Toronto will be tough for the 21-year-old. After a bye she meets the winner of the duel between Shelby Rogers and Veronika Kudermetova. Curious: The two only faced each other on Saturday (local time) in the semifinals in San Jose, Rogers won in straight sets .

Click here for Toronto's draw

by Nikolaus Fink

Sunday
Aug 07, 2022, 04:40 pm
last edit: Aug 07, 2022, 11:03 am