“Being the defending champion is not easy” – Iga Swiatek ahead of US Open

Wind back the clock 18 months, and Iga Swiatek was just beginning an incredible streak of form that saw her rise to No 1 in the rankings and win three of the past six Grand Slams.

Now, with the title of defending champion at many of the events she plays in 2023, Swiatek has become the one who is being chased by the rest of the WTA Tour.

Ahead of the US Open this year, the 22-year-old has revealed what this is like as she prepares to defend her US Open title.

Swiatek growing accustomed to having target on her back

Speaking to media at the US Open on Friday, Iga Swiatek explained how the pressure of being world No 1 impacted her early in 2023.

“Honestly, I would say at the beginning of this season was pretty tough for me. I learned the most because I felt like everybody started to analyse my game, to learn little bit more. They kind of focused on winning with me. So it wasn’t easy. I felt that,” said Swiatek.

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“On the other hand, if you want to be the best player in the world, you have to be ready for that. I learned that I should just focus on myself, not really think about rankings and points, just focus on developing as a player because there are many things I want to change or improve.

“You just have to use the experience, for sure, and the confidence, but still remember that the most important thing is to develop as a player,” Swiatek concluded.

Step by step the key for Swiatek in US Open title defence

While Iga Swiatek has shared that she’s feeling “positive vibes” in New York this year, the theme of focusing on her own game and simply taking matters step by step is evident as the 22-year-old speaks about her impending US Open defence: “Being the defending champion is not easy, so I’m kind of taking it easy, trying to do everything step by step.

“On one hand you always want to kind of take experience from last year, find all these positive things that happened, take strength from that. On the other hand you have to remember that it’s totally different story. A lot can happen during like these 12 months.

“I try to, yeah, take everything step by step, not really go forward with my thoughts, think that I need to do something more because last year I won.”

Clearly, Swiatek has already learnt how to navigate the challenge of defending a title, with the Pole backing up her victories in Doha, Stuttgart and Roland-Garros this year, after winning the events in 2022.