Iga Swiatek: ‘Winning keeps me fresh, it makes sense to play San Diego’

Iga Swiatek is ready and raring to go for the San Diego Open despite a marathon final over the Atlantic in Ostrava on Sunday. 

The world number one begins the WTA 500 event against French Open foe Zheng Qinwen on her return to North America from Europe. Swiatek reached the final of the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic last week. There she lost to home favourite Barbora Krejcikova in a match lasting three hours and 16 minutes.

“Even though I played two really long matches there I feel pretty fine physically,” Swiatek said ahead of San Diego. “The thing is that right now I feel more fresh because I had more time off after the US Open.

“So going into Ostrava I knew I could give everything and go all in. It’s not that bad. It’s the ‘nice’ jet lag, coming this way.”

With 60 wins and seven titles already to her name in 2022, Swiatek is not heading stateside just for more wins. She has her eyes set on the WTA Finals, beginning in Fort Worth, Texas on 31st October.

“It makes sense because I just have to have more matches before the WTA Finals,” Swiatek explained. “It would be pretty bad if I would have three weeks without matches because I would be a little bit not in the rhythm.

“So it makes sense to be here for sure. I really wanted to play because of the city and I heard so many positive things about the tournament that I wanted to come.”

Having thoroughly cemented her status atop the WTA ladder, one might expect a dip in motivation and energy for the 21-year-old. But Iga Swiatek insists the opposite is true heading towards the end of a stellar double-Slam winning season.

“Honestly, I feel great and that’s weird because I thought after so many matches I was going to feel a lack of motivation. Or I thought that if you’re winning too much you’re not going to have another goal to reach.

“But honestly, it’s the opposite. I’m even more fresh because winning keeps me really positive. I don’t waste my energy and time coming back to this positive mindset. I feel like I can be in the rhythm and do my job on court and play. I feel really good.”

Unfortunately, Swiatek will not close her season by bringing her form for her nation. The Pole recently announced she would not play the Billie Jean King Cup Finals beginning 8th November due to its proximity to the WTA finals, deeming the scheduling ‘unsafe’ for her’s and other’s fitness.

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