Tennis: World No. 1 Swiatek starting 2023 with a clean slate
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Poland's Iga Swiatek during a practice session ahead of the 2023 United Cup tennis tournament.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
BRISBANE – Tennis’ world No. 1 Iga Swiatek said on Wednesday that she will put a breakthrough 2022 season behind her to concentrate on staying at the pinnacle of the women’s game.
The Polish star won eight singles titles, including the French Open and US Open Grand Slams, in a stellar season that saw her take a commanding position at the top of the rankings, well clear of second-placed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
The 21-year-old inherited the top spot with the shock retirement of Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in March, but has since made it her own.
“I’m going to try to kind of cut off everything that happened... and just focus on the future, because I feel like I can take a lot of experience from these tournaments,” she said ahead of the inaugural mixed-team United Cup in Australia.
“I don’t want to really like hold on to that too much, because I want to go forward and kind of focus on my next goals.”
Swiatek admitted she had mixed emotions when she became No. 1 after Barty’s retirement, and wasn’t sure that she deserved it.
“At first I felt like I wasn’t sure if this is kind of my place to be,” she said.
“Ash, she seemed like a huge role model for everybody in terms of her behaviour on court but also off court, so I felt like she really set the bar pretty high.
“I need to show it to people but also show it to myself that I’m in the right place.”
She added: “I’m super proud of myself. I feel a huge satisfaction, because I have been working my whole life to get to this point. I didn’t really think it’s possible for me.
“Even right now, I feel like there is a lot I can change and improve.”
Tennis great Martina Navratilova is expecting Swiatek to retain her top spot during the 2023 season.
Speaking to the WTA website, she said: “I don’t see anybody knocking her off – because she’s so consistent.
“She wins Majors and she’s consistent. Usually, it’s one or the other, but she’s got them both going on at the same time.”
Poland get their United Cup under way in Brisbane on Saturday against Kazakhstan, with Swiatek taking on Yulia Putintseva in the opener. AFP
