World No 1 Swiatek looks ahead to last major of 2024

The Pole has lowered her expectations compared to last year, where she failed to defend the title in New York

Zuma/Panoramic

August 24, 2024

Fresh off her loss (6-3, 6-3) to Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-final of Cincinnati last week, Iga Swiatek has her sights firmly focused on the next two weeks in New York as the US Open gets underway.

The world No 1 has had a spectacular 2024, despite ‘only’ winning one of the three majors, capturing five titles which include Roland-Garros, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome. Reflecting on her feelings at last year’s edition, the Pole admitted during media day on Friday that she had a lot of baggage when she sought to defend the title in the ‘Big Apple’.

Speaking to journalists, Swiatek expanded on this feeling and how it differs to this time around:

“Last year I felt I had many things to defend, like World No 1 position, all my points, and also the title itself. I felt like I have a lot of baggage on my shoulders. This year it’s a little bit different. This year I’m just trying to focus on what should I do tennis-wise to play the best game possible. My expectations are not like so high compared to last year. So I’m going to try to focus on getting everything step by step and not put too much baggage on my shoulders.”

This year I’m just trying to focus on what should I do tennis-wise to play the best game possible. My expectations are not like so high compared to last year.
Swiatek on her expectations this year

The Pole also stated that, even though she won the title in 2022, her US Open winning run 24 months ago was incredibly stressful:

“In 2022, for sure, that was the Grand Slam that I was least chilled at. Even though I won, I didn’t
feel comfortable on the court at all. Maybe only, like – yeah, I didn’t feel like at all. I didn’t feel like I can play my game naturally. So it would be stupid for me to expect that I’m going to feel it, you know, next years. US Open 2022 actually taught me that I can win even though I’m not feeling 100%. So I wouldn’t say now I’m relaxed, because it’s impossible to be relaxed in New York, especially, you know, with everything that’s going on around.”

The world No 1 has plenty of dangerous hard hitters within her section of the draw, with Mirra Andreeva lurking in round four and the always dangerous Jessica Pegula or hard-hitting Danielle Collins in a potential quarter-final. One thing is for sure: Swiatek is going to go one match at a time, with Russian Kamilla Rakhimova awaiting the five-time major champion on Tuesday afternoon.