Iga Swiatek is set to compete against Sorana Cîrstea in the opening match of the 2024 Qatar Open. The Polish tennis player, who recently claimed the top rank in the WTA, was questioned during a press conference about the added pressure that comes with her new title. In response, Swiatek emphasized that she remains true to herself regardless of her ranking and feels no obligation to conform to any expectations.
Although Swiatek briefly lost her No. 1 position after reaching the final of the US Open, she swiftly reclaimed it by winning the Japan Open and the WTA Finals. However, her performance in the 2024 Australian Open, her first tournament of the year, did not meet the same standard. Swiatek was defeated in the third round of the competition.
As the World No. 1, Swiatek acknowledges that there is an assumption that she should act and speak in a certain manner. However, she asserts that she will always prioritize being authentic and true to herself. Swiatek remains unchanged, regardless of the number next to her name.
Following her victory in the 2024 Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka has closed the gap between her and Iga Swiatek in the rankings. Sabalenka now trails Swiatek by just 865 points and may surpass her in upcoming tournaments. Despite this, Swiatek remains unfazed and asserts that her identity will not be defined by her position in the rankings.
Next up for Iga Swiatek is the Qatar Open, where she will face Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in the first round on Monday.
According to the Source firstsportz.com