Iga Swiatek expressed her satisfaction with her performance in her first match in Doha, where she faced Sorana Cirstea. Swiatek also addressed claims that she has become a more aggressive and attacking player.
After a surprising loss in the third round of the Australian Open, Swiatek returned to the court in Doha with a dominating performance against world No. 22 Sorana Cirstea. She won the match 6-1 6-1, starting her title defense in an impressive manner.
During the match, Swiatek missed out on two opportunities to break Cirstea’s serve in the second game. However, she remained focused and went on to win the opening set after breaking the Romanian player in the fourth and sixth games. In the second set, Swiatek was unable to break Cirstea in the first game, but she won six consecutive games to secure a two-set victory, losing only two games in total.
The match lasted one hour and one minute, and it was a one-sided battle as Swiatek did not allow Cirstea a single break point. Swiatek had 11 break point opportunities and converted six of them, demonstrating her dominance on the court.
“I am pleased with my performance, and I believe it was a solid match. I was able to maintain my focus from start to finish. After each game, I gained more confidence and was even able to relax a bit towards the end. So I am happy with my solid play,” Swiatek shared in her press conference.
Swiatek, who will turn 23 in May, has been a formidable force on clay since the beginning of her career, winning the 2020 French Open. However, she recognized the need to improve her game on hard and grass surfaces.
Since the 2022 season, Swiatek has shown significant improvement on hard courts, thanks to her increased aggression on the court. When asked about the claim that she has become more offensive and attacking, Swiatek explained that she started working on offensive formations in 2022, which has given her more variety in her game.
She admitted that she is still learning to balance her aggressive play and utilize her defensive skills effectively. Swiatek emphasized the importance of choosing the right strategies, tournaments, and surfaces, and credited her coach for guiding her in making the best decisions.
In her match against Cirstea, Swiatek faced a different challenge compared to her previous match in the Australian Open. While her forehand was targeted by her opponent in the Australian Open, she had no difficulties with it against Cirstea. Swiatek revealed that she had been working on her forehand since her loss in Melbourne.
Furthermore, Swiatek noted that the hard surface in Doha is slower compared to Melbourne Park. This difference in court speed will require her to adjust her game accordingly.
Having received a first-round bye in Doha, Swiatek’s opening match took place in the second round, and her victory over Cirstea secured her a spot in the round-of-16. She will face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Erika Andreeva for a place in the quarterfinals.
Regardless of her opponent, Swiatek is expected to be the favorite in her upcoming match.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org