Iga Swiatek ‘trusts’ that the WTA have made the right decision to return to China
Iga Swiatek has voiced her opinion on the WTA’s decision to return to China, as she prepares to return to the tour from injury.
Swiatek played her last match in the semi-final of Indian Wells, before pulling out of the Miami Open and Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier with a rib injury caused by a ‘strong episode of tough cough’.
🎾 It was a very difficult decision to make but I have no doubts that health is the most important. ⤵️
🎾 To była naprawdę bardzo trudna decyzja, ale nie mam wątpliwości, że zdrowie jest absolutnie najważniejsze. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/HjBqrANmy0
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) March 22, 2023
However, the Pole has revealed that she is feeling fit ahead of her Stuttgart title defence, “I’m not injured anymore, so that’s the most important thing for me.”
She continued, “I feel like I used that time in Warsaw well to rest a little bit and to not think about tennis. I have still been working out physically a little bit and obviously coming back to practising step by step. Here I am and I think I’m ready.”
“It’s the first tournament on clay, so for sure I would love to play well, but I also know that I might be a little bit rusty because coming back from injury it’s always a little bit like that. So, I’m keeping my expectations low, but for sure I want to play the best tennis possible.”
Iga Swiatek points to defend on clay
Swiatek begins her clay season in Germany, where she begins the defence of her ranking having been undefeated in the build-up to and including Roland Garros last year.
Here is what the No.1 has to defend this clay season:
Iga Swiatek ranking points total: 8975
Total clay season points: 3370 (37.5% of total points)
Points ahead of WTA No.2 Aryna Sabalenka: 2084
Upon her return to the tour, Swiatek was also asked about the WTA’s decision to return to China despite still not being 100% happy with Peng Shuai’s safety.
“I just trust that the WTA is making right decision. I hope that we, as players, can be safe no matter what country we are from,” said Swiatek.
The 21-year-old added, “I don’t have any kind of emotional influence because I have never even been to China. It’s hard for me to say anything, but I just hope that WTA is strategically making a good choice.”
Coincidentally, Swiatek begins her title defence in Stuttgart against a Chinese player in Qinwen Zheng, who she has beaten in their two previous meetings.
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