Iga Swiatek acknowledged that, despite consistently strong performances over recent seasons, she’s felt “judged” in recent months due to a string of results that didn’t meet sky-high expectations. But as she steps into the spotlight once more at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, the world No. 1 appears unfazed and ready to refocus.
Swiatek dominated last year’s clay swing, capturing WTA 1000 titles in Madrid and Rome before clinching her third straight French Open crown.
However, since then, she hasn’t advanced to a final—a drought that’s sparked speculation and scrutiny.
Still, her 2024 season so far tells a different story: a solid 21-6 record and three semifinal appearances. That said, the inability to break through to a final has led some to question her form.
Speaking to reporters during media day in Stuttgart, Swiatek addressed the chatter, making it clear she’s blocking out the noise and locking back into her game.
“Certainly, my goal is to focus on myself. It hasn’t been easy in recent months because after having such good seasons, I have been in the spotlight and judged for everything, expectations are high. My goal is to focus on myself and the process, on what I want to change on the court,” Swiatek said, via Puntodebreak.com.
Swiatek also shared a sense of optimism about what lies ahead, revealing that she and her coach, Wim Fissette, have been collaborating closely on new strategies to elevate her game. The world No. 1 spoke positively about the progress they’ve made, hinting that fresh adjustments and tactical refinements could pay off as the clay season unfolds.
“Surely, with Wim, we have many ideas on how I can improve my technique. On the practice court, it has looked pretty good, so I want to put it into practice in matches. I try to keep myself busy with these things. I am sure that if I work hard, the results will come. People will also, I don’t know, say what they want. Sometimes you have to ignore that,” she added.
Iga Swiatek to face Donna Vekic or Jana Fett in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2R
As the second seed at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Iga Swiatek will skip the opening round and begin her campaign in the second round, where she’s slated to take on the winner of the all-Croatian clash between Donna Vekic and Jana Fett.
Speaking before the tournament, Swiatek acknowledged the challenge of transitioning to clay but remained confident about her prospects in the upcoming stretch of events.
“We play on hard courts most of the year, so I need time to adapt to clay, but I am confident that I am in the right place. With a good amount of work and focus, I will be able to start playing my game,” Iga Swiatek said during the press conference.
Iga Swiatek enters the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with a strong head-to-head advantage, boasting a 4-0 record against World No. 20 Donna Vekic and a 1-0 edge over Jana Fett. Regardless of which Croatian she faces in the second round, the Pole appears well-positioned to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
