World No 1 Iga Swiatek gave a very candid and direct response when asked whether she could become the next dominant player in women’s tennis. Swiatek, who won eight out of her nine finals last year, has nearly 6,000 ranking points more than second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek is now considered the best and most dominant player on the WTA Tour. “They’re saying you could be the next dominant player in women’s tennis. Do you think you can live up to that title?” Swiatek was asked in Dubai.
The Pole responded: “I think last season was already pretty dominant, so yeah.”
Swiatek explains a rough Australian swing
Swiatek kicked off her 2023 season at the inaugural United Cup, where she won her first three matches before Jessica Pegula handed her a 6-2 6-2 loss.
After being dismantled by Pegula, Swiatek also suffered a surprise Australian Open round-of-16 defeat to Elena Rybakina. “It was the beginning of the season. My pre-season was pretty intense on the court and also off the court.
I still feel like I did a really good job in United Cup. Before the travel day, I was playing really, really solid matches. In the Australian Open as well, I played against Elena [Rybakina], and she totally deserved to win. She went to the final later.
For sure, she was in good shape”. Swiatek said, per Gulf News. Last week, Swiatek won Doha with a total of five games dropped en route to winning the title. “I really used the time after Australian Open properly, and I could reset and focus just on working on my technique — and mentally also kind of reset.
I learned a lesson in my last match in Australia. I realise I have to be energetically there on the court and run a little bit more, [and] give more. In Doha, I was able to do that,” Swiatek explained. This week, Swiatek is competing at a WTA 1000 event in Dubai. Top-seeded Swiatek had a first-round bye and she plays Leylah Fernandez in the Dubai second round.
