Iga Swiatek feeling settled as world No. 1 ahead of French Open defence
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Iga Swiatek celebrating with the trophy after her 6-3, 6-4 Stuttgart Open final win over Aryna Sabalenka.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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STUTTGART – Three-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek said she had to learn how to manage the pressure of being world No. 1 and not let expectations weigh her down as the Pole prepares to defend her French Open title in May.
The 21-year-old beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-4
Asked how she settled into her status as world No. 1, Swiatek said she had tuned out the noise and was focused on her game.
“Last year was really, really tough and I felt like this season may be tough, because of what people are saying and expectations from the outside,” Swiatek said.
“I’m happy I managed to work through it. That was probably the biggest thing I had to go through at the beginning of the year.”
The US Open champion, who now sat atop the WTA rankings for more than a year, broke serve late in the first set, taking advantage of an uncharacteristic miss from Belrusian Sabalenka.
Swiatek broke again in the opening game of the second, after which notable frustration began to creep into the world No. 2’s game.
Sabalenka made a number of unforced errors, allowing the Pole to gain control of the match.
Swiatek converted her first match point with a smooth backhand to chalk up another impressive victory after almost two hours on court.
She came into the match fresh after playing just 18 minutes of Saturday’s semi-final before her opponent Ons Jabeur retired hurt. Sabalenka beat Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-2 on Saturday.
Following her fourth-round exit at the Australian Open in January, Swiatek, who won eight titles in 2022, said she had been affected by the pressure and had been going into matches hoping not to lose rather than wanting to win.
“Now I feel like I just can use my experience a little bit more, more than worry about stuff,” she said. “I’m just happy that I’m world No. 1 for more than a year, and it’s an exciting time.”
Meanwhile, Karolina Pliskova has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, which starts on Tuesday, due to a knee injury. However, the former world No. 1 said she hopes to recover in time for the May 9-20 Italian Open in Rome ahead of the French Open.
The clay-court Grand Slam starts on May 28.
Pliskova, 15th in the world rankings, said on Twitter that she was injured during her quarter-final defeat by Swiatek in Stuttgart where she lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Pliskova’s best result at Roland Garros came in 2017 when she reached the semi-finals. REUTERS, AFP
