After claiming her fifth title in a row at the Italian Open, Iga Swiatek has insisted that she will be able to cope with the high expectations from those around her heading into the next Grand Slam later this month.
The world No.1 dispatched of Ons Jabeur in straight sets on Sunday at the Foro Italico to extend her winning streak to 28 matches. Becoming only the fourth woman to do so since 2000 after both of the Williams sisters and Justin Henin. Overall, she has won 35 matches this season against just three losses. Prior to Rome, she also won titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart. A run she described as ‘pretty surreal.’
Given Swiatek’s surge on the Tour, she is heading into the French Open as the one to beat in the women’s draw. A former winner of the major back in 2020, the Pole has the extra pressure of being the No.1 seed in a Grand Slam draw for the first time at the age of 20. In recent weeks she has had to also deal with a surge of media interest in her.
However, ironically Swiatek believes her unbeaten run in the sport has in one way helped eased her own personal expectations.
“Right now it’s a little bit better ’cause I kind of accepted a few things,” she told reporters in Rome on Sunday when asked about how she is dealing with the pressure.
“I already know that I did some great stuff this season, so I feel like I can just play freely and not think I have to win some tournaments or I have to win some matches or I have to save some points.’
“This year the pressure that I always put on myself, it’s a little bit lower. For sure the expectations around are higher, but I never had a problem to cut it off and not to think about it.”
Approaching Roland Garros Swiatek believes the best method is to change nothing. She is currently coached on the Tour by Tomasz Witkorowski who joined her team during the off-season. Witkorowski has previously worked with Agnieszka Radwańska. Also supporting her is sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz who has been working with the tennis star for over two years.
“Honestly, I’m going to do the same way I’ve done here (in Rome), also in other tournaments,” Swiatek said of her preparations for the French Open. “For sure it’s going to be a little bit harder with all the breaks that we’re going to have between matches. I also like the rhythm that we have on Grand Slams. Again, I’m going to try to do step by step, just think of the next match as I did in these tournaments.”
Should she win the French Open, Swiatek would have the longest winning streak on the WTA Tour since Serena Williams back in 2013. Whilst many are tipping her for more Grand Slam glory, she is keeping an open mind about how much longer she can keep her winning streak for.
“Good question. I think nobody knows the answer,” she replied.
The French Open will begin next Sunday.
