Without any particular expectations, Iga Swiatek achieved a positive semifinal at the Cincinnati Open and it is natural to now have her among the great protagonists in the last Slam of the season, the US Open.
Confirming to everyone that she is the strongest even on a surface where she has not proven to be so dominant in recent years: the Polish player showed up at the media day on the eve of her debut at Flushing Meadows, a tournament in which she won in 2022 but in which last year she suffered a setback in the round of 16.
It’s clear that in 2023 I felt like I had a lot to defend: the No. 1 WTA ranking, all my points and the title itself. I felt like I had a huge weight on my shoulders. This year is a little bit different, I’m trying to focus on what I should do to play at the best level possible. My expectations are not high,” she said.
The 2022 US Open taught me that I can win even if I don’t feel 100%. It’s impossible to be relaxed in New York, which is a very noisy city. In Cincinnati, for example, we can focus and make our priority be training. Here there are so many off-court activities that you have to find a balance in a sensible way. I’m learning from previous experiences. Maybe I’m a little bit smarter, I hope I can take advantage of that,” added the WTA No.1.
The Pole then paid particular attention to the new courts, revealing her point of view on the differences between New York and Cincinnati:
“The courts are different fundamentally. I had a few days off after Cincinnati, so a little less time to be on the court and feel the differences. Of course with a couple of days you can get used to the surface, which is much slower. It should be good for me, but at the same time you have to adapt quickly.
