Swiatek relishing being No 1: “You feel like your game is better than anyone”
The Pole cemented her position at the top of the rankings by winning Indian Wells for a second time
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Iga Swiatek reminded everyone just why she is the world No 1 on Sunday as she saw off Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 to win the Indian Wells Masters for a second time.
The Pole was understandably proud of her performances in the desert, adding the 2024 title to the one she won in 2022. Soon after that win two years ago, with Ash Barty retiring, she took over the world No 1 spot and apart from a few weeks, has topped the rankings ever since. No wonder she’s enjoying life at the top.
“I remember everything, honestly,” she told reporters, of first topping the rankings. “It was pretty crazy. I’m pretty proud of the way I adapted to all these challenges that I had to face. First becoming world No 1, then actually feeling comfortable with it and using it on court and being the target of many players that wanted to beat particularly me and then starting next season as world No 1. I’m really proud of how I handled everything.
“It’s not like it just happens and then it’s done. You have many things, you know, that you have to face during one season. So, yeah, I’m just pretty proud.
“You feel like your game is better than anyone”
Some players struggle to deal with what being No 1 brings; others embrace it. Swiatek, even though she is an introvert who prefers to be away from the limelight, is handling it rather nicely. Perhaps that’s because being No 1 also brings a confidence that no one else can match.
“I would say you just feel like your game is better than anyone out there,” she said. “Obviously it’s not for granted that you’re going to win because of that, but you feel like you have skills and you have everything to be able to, you know, present your best game. I don’t expect it’s going to happen all the time, but I just know that it’s somewhere there and I need to make the best work to put it out there.
Still not entirely comfortable
However, as well as she handles it, that doesn’t mean it comes easily to her. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of work, especially with her psychologist, that helps her deal with what she is facing.
“There are going to be ups and downs still, so I don’t expect I’m always going to feel comfortable with pressure,” she said. “Sometimes it hits harder; sometimes it doesn’t hit at all. I wouldn’t say that at some point I felt comfortable and that’s it, now I’m going to be comfortable till the rest of my career.”
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