The goal for Iga Swiatek is to look at what lies ahead for her at Wimbledon instead of dwelling on the past.
This year the 22-year-old is seeking to go beyond the fourth round of the grasscourt major for the first time. In some respects, Wimbledon has been a letdown so far in the career of the Pole when compared to the other major events. She is a two-time French Open champion and lifted the US Open crown last September. Meanwhile, at Melbourne Park she is a former semi-finalist.
Swiatek looks to be on the verge of a breakthrough at The All England Club after coming through her first three matches without dropping a set. In her latest encounter on Friday, she beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-2, 7-5, in what was a largely straightforward encounter. Although she was broken when trying to serve the match out.
“This is a tournament where I feel most comfortable in terms of playing on grass,” Swiatek said during her press conference. “I feel like I can use my experience from previous years and add what I practiced before’
“I feel confident and I feel like I can play with more intuition and play my game a little bit more”
12 months ago her experience at the tournament was a disappointing one. At the time she was the player to beat on the Tour with everybody keeping an eye on her. On a 37-match winning streak, she was stopped in her tracks by Alize Cornet in the third round. A match she is keen to forget.
“I’m not thinking back to last year, especially with the fact that we don’t have to defend points,” she said. “I feel like last year was a little bit different, especially coming back after winning Roland Garros. It wasn’t the easiest moment for me.’
“I’m just taking experience from just this period of time of playing on grass, and that’s all. It’s just a totally different chapter.”
Now rapidly finding her footing on the grass, the Pole believes this year’s Grand Slam is her best yet on the surface. A somewhat bold statement from the top seed who is seeking a place in the quarter-finals for the first time. Before Wimbledon, she reached the semi-finals of the Bad Homburg Open in Germany before having to withdraw from the tournament due to illness.
Swiatek can expect a stern test in the next round when she faces Belinda Bencic, who beat Magda Linette 6-3, 6-1, in her third round match. The Swiss player is a former Wimbledon girls’ champion who is through to the last 16 of the pro event for the third time in her career.
“I do feel more relaxed. I won Roland Garros and I feel like after that the pressure is a little bit off because I reached my goal kind of for the season. I don’t have to think about anything else other than playing.” Swiatek explains.
“But on the other hand, you may say the same about last year. But this time is a little bit different because I feel like I have more free space in my head to develop my game and to work on my skills on grass.”
