Iga Swiatek quietly confident ahead of clay court season
World No 1 Iga Swiatek enters a stretch of the WTA Tour where she will feel most at home.
Swiatek wouldn’t set her expectations too high ahead of her return to action following a stunning Sunshine Double triumph.
However, the 2020 French Open champion, is exceedingly comfortable on clay.
“Clay court, even though I’m not going to win all the tournaments or something, I still feel the most comfortable there,” Swiatek told Roland-Garros.
“But no matter the results, it’s all fun for me.”
Swiatek said that while she always wants to win the French Open, she cannot guarantee she will lift the trophy again.
“I feel confident. Last time I played on clay was a year ago, I’m going to see how I’m going to play there.
“I always have that extra motivation before Roland Garros, so I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen also this year, and I’m just gonna be working hard. But the results we are going to see. I can’t promise anything.”
Swiatek skipped the Charleston open after a gruelling March, but is expected to be in the final field for the 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on the clay in Stuttgart.
At this stage the Stuttgart stop is set to feature 17 of the current Top 20 players on the WTA Tour.
Greece’s Maria Sakkari, reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova and last year’s runner-up Aryna Sabalenka are also in a field that will ensure there are no easy paths to the final.
US Open champion Emma Raducanu is also set to make her debut at the event.
Swiatek heads a field for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix that should ensure the tennis world fixes its eyes on Stuttgart in the fourth week of April.
‟We’ve got a sensational field and spectators back in the indoor arena, one couldn’t wish for more,” Tournament Director Markus Günthardt said.
‟The fact that virtually all the Top 20 will be contesting our tournament is amazing.
“The players love coming to us because they feel at home here. We offer them conditions in which they can perform at their best and our crowd also creates a fantastic atmosphere, no matter whether there are two stars or two qualifiers on court.”
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