She is a woman with a mission, a mission that, until at least a year ago, seemed a real Mission Impossible: Iga Swiatek wants to make the definitive leap in quality also on grass, a surface on which she has often struggled to find results. The first round match at the Wimbledon Championships against Sofia Kenin could hide more than a few pitfalls, but the WTA No.1 behaved like a No.1 and closed the challenge with her opponent with the score of 6-3, 6-4. Her next opponent will also put her mental strength to the test, because Petra Martic is capable of excelling on grass.
I felt good, especially considering it was my first match after a break of almost two weeks. I felt a little rusty at some points, but I’m happy to get the win and get to the second round. It’s good that I’ll have at least one more chance to play on grass. Every year I seem to be more confident on this surface. When you switch from one surface to another, you know that the first few days you’re never going to feel comfortable.
You have to accept that. Looking at how I play now, both in matches and in practice, I feel like I’m progressing every year, every season I’m able to adapt faster. I can say that I feel more comfortable, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that I know how difficult the next rounds are going to be, we’re in a Slam and you always have to be ready,” Swiatek said in a press conference.
Iga then answered a curious question in which she was asked from media who are the three players she would like to have dinner with, revealing:
“Definitely Steffi Graf. I would like to talk to her and get to know her, share some experiences. I would also choose Maria Sharapova, because we haven’t really spoken since she retired. The third would be Serena Williams,” she said.