‘Humble’ Iga Swiatek addresses expectations, how major success ‘messed with my head’

Iga Swiatek reveals she has by no means had an inventory of particular tournaments she want to win and shares that the final couple of years “messed with my head” as a result of she has achieved far more than she ever imagined she would. 

Swiatek, who shall be turning 23 in late Could, already has a really wealthy resume as she has 18 titles, of which 4 are Grand Slams and 7 have come on the WTA 1000 degree. Additionally, since reaching the world No. 1 spot for the primary time on April 2nd, 2022, Swiatek has spent there 93 weeks up to now. 

After profitable her first title on the most important degree on the 2020 French Open, Swiatek additionally received two titles the next 12 months. Since 2022, Swiatek has received by far probably the most titles on the WTA Tour because the Pole lifted eight titles in 2022 – six final 12 months – and he or she added her 18th title after profitable final month’s WTA 1000 match in Doha. 

In her return to Indian Wells – the place Swiatek made all of it the best way in 2022 – the Pole was requested if she has an inventory of tournaments she want to win outdoors Slams. 

“I haven’t got that type of record, most likely as a result of once I begin the season, I do not take into consideration really profitable titles. I take into consideration simply working and getting my sport collectively,” Swiatek stated.

“So, no, for me, yeah, I do not actually — for me, does not actually matter if I win Doha or I win Indian Wells or Montreal or Cincinnati. A match is a match. I need to win each match that I play at. Yeah, does not matter.”

Swiatek on how her large success ‘messed with my head’

When Swiatek grew to become a Grand Slam champion on the age of 19, the final expectation and perception was that she will surely have a vivid future. 

After Ashleigh Barty’s stunning retirement in 2022 March, many immediately puzzled who would step up and be the following face of ladies’s tennis. The tennis group did not have to attend too lengthy for that reply as after changing Barty on the world No. 1 spot in 2022 April, Swiatek went on a 37-match profitable streak and had a really profitable and dominant season. 

Now, Swiatek admits all of this has type of been surreal to her and divulges that her objectives now are “process-related” fairly than “tournament-related.”

“Truthfully, final couple of years they type of messed with my head that manner that, you realize, I achieved way more than I ever anticipated. , so making objectives which are based mostly on the outcomes, it is fairly difficult for me, as a result of actually, simply profitable, I do not know, two tournaments per 12 months can be, you realize, all I ever dreamed of, actually, and much more,” Swiatek defined.

“So I am making an attempt to set my objectives, you realize, for extra type of technical stuff, like, engaged on my serve and really being extra snug on the web and stuff like that.

“So it is not tournament-related. It is extra process-related. I believe that is additionally type of how Daria type of pushed me in that course, so I believe these objectives are type of more healthy.”

Swiatek on performing properly when she isn’t feeling her finest 

Prior to now, Swiatek spoke a number of instances in regards to the size of a tennis season and highlighted that consistently feeling properly is just about not possible. However Swiatek labored on discovering an answer on find out how to react in these moments and the way she might do properly even when she isn’t feeling absolute best bodily or mentally-wise. 

In Indian Wells, the four-time Grand Slam champion shared a little bit of glimpse into how all of that appears. 

“Effectively, actually, there are completely different causes, so you need to react in a different way and discover completely different options,” Swiatek stated.

“So, yeah, you simply need to type of do not panic and take it step-by-step, as a result of I already had loads of tournaments the place I did not play properly throughout first matches, after which I used to be capable of change my sport and regulate slightly bit extra so I might win titles.”

In the meantime, Swiatek has gotten off to a reasonably robust begin to Indian Wells. After a first-round bye, top-seeded Swiatek crushed 2022 Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins 6-3 6-0 to simply make the third spherical.

After saving two consecutive break factors within the seventh sport, Swiatek earned the primary break of the match within the eighth sport for a 5-3 lead after which served out for the primary set within the following sport. After profitable the final three video games of the primary set, Swiatek additionally received the second set with out a sport misplaced and completed the match by profitable the final 9 video games. 

In her subsequent match, Swiatek performs Linda Noskova, who famously upset her on this 12 months’s Australian Open third spherical.