“I feel more free” – Swiatek enjoying instinctive tennis once again with an imperious return to form

The Pole has reached her third 1000-level final of the season as she bids for a fifth WTA title in 2023

Iga Swiatek speaks in her post-match press conference at the 2023 US Open © Zuma / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

October 7, 2023

China Open •Semi-final • completed

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C. GauffvsI. Swiatek

By her own sky-high standards, it has been a difficult couple of months for Iga Swiatek.

For a player who last year compiled a 37-match winning streak – winning six consecutive titles in the process – coming off the North American hard-court swing without a title will have felt like a disappointing return for the Pole.

Not that Swiatek was playing poorly. The four-time Grand Slam champion reached the last four of both Montreal and Cincinnati, before a run to the second week of the US Open, where her progress was swiftly and unexpectedly halted by an inspired Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko Swiatek US Open 2023 (John Minchillo/AP/SIPA) — Ostapenko ended Swiatek’s title defence at this year’s US Open (John Minchillo/AP/SIPA)

There were many positives to take from the US swing.

Nonetheless, Swiatek left New York having relinquished both her US Open title and the World No 1 ranking after 75 consecutive weeks at the top.

It felt like the right moment to take a breath, which is exactly what the 22-year-old did.

Swiatek credits not overanalysing for her excellent form

After a period of recuperation followed by a return to the practice court, Swiatek entered the Asian stretch of the season as a debutant and with a renewed perspective – no longer weighed down by the pressures of defending her No 1 position.

This change of mindset has clearly paid dividends for the young Pole, who finds herself in a third 1000-level final in 2023.

“I’m trying to not overanalyse or overthink on every tournament,” Swiatek explained, following her semi-final win over Coco Gauff in Beijing.

Emphatic Iga 🧙@iga_swiatek snaps Gauff's 16-match winning streak in Beijing to reach her eighth WTA 1000 final! #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/3LmfqTLaB4
— wta (@WTA) October 7, 2023

“For sure just the feeling that I get on court. This surface and these balls, maybe they fit me. I have, like, more positive thoughts when I play. I have a feeling that I also have Plan B if something doesn’t work out.

“But overall, yeah, I’m trying to do the work mentally like on every tournament. Maybe, yeah, not being No. 1 helps a little bit with that.”

Free-swinging Swiatek feeling good again on the match court

Swiatek was candid in her admission that it has been a couple of months since she has felt secure enough in her game to play with instinct rather than overanalysing, feeling good on the match court again.

“I wouldn’t say also that it’s been a long time since I haven’t felt it, because I know there are players that kind of feel baggage on their shoulders for much more time. For me it’s a couple of months.

“It’s just easier [now]. You can keep your focus better and longer. You don’t have any thoughts that are kind of messing with your head.

“Sometimes it’s even, like, easier to run or easier to technically do something because it goes more naturally.”

Samsonova awaits as Iga aims for first 1000 title in 2023

The now-World No 2 will have a golden opportunity to clinch her first 1000-level title of the season when she takes on Liudmila Samsonova in Sunday’s final.

Should she win, the Pole will move ahead of Coco Gauff in title wins for the season with five, while also closing the gap at the top of the rankings between herself and Aryna Sabalenka.

For Swiatek, however, the key has been not dwelling on rankings and title numbers. She is just enjoying playing tennis with freedom and focusing on the immediate problem in front of her.

The results of this have been striking, as Swiatek is back to playing at a standard not far off her very best.

“I feel like overall I’m more loosened up. I feel more free. Everything is a little bit easier than on past tournaments,” Iga explained.

For a young player with already 15 titles to her name, tournaments feeling easier than they have done is an ominous revelation for the rest of the tour.

It was a tricky end to the summer for the Pole. But like all great champions, it appears Iga Swiatek has remedied the slump to emerge from it perhaps stronger than ever.