Spaniard eager to test herself against World No 1 Iga Swiatek

Sara Sorribes Tormo has praised the World No 1 Iga Swiatek highly, believing that she can learn a lot from her and that she is now doing everything correctly at the moment.

In their 2024 United Cup opening match, Team Spain defeated Team Brazil 2-1 on Friday. Thiago Seyboth Wild was initially defeated by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, giving Spain the advantage; however, Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated Sorribes Tormo to equalise the score.

Davidovich Fokina and Sorribes Tormo triumphed against Haddad Maia and Marcus Melo in the decisive mixed doubles match, giving their nation a solid start to the competition. Next up, on New Year’s Day, Spain will play Team Poland, led by WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek, backed up by ATP top 20 star Hubert Hurkacz.

Speaking at her news conference after the match, Sorribes Tormo said she would find the matchup “very challenging” going up against the four-time Grand Slam winner. The 27-year-old said that she felt it was an honour to face Swiatek while also saying that she would attempt to enjoy the event and learn what she could.

“I’m going to say something that I don’t know if I have to say, but she’s the best. That’s what I think. I think she’s doing all the things right. Is a player that I really look at her of how she does many, many things,” Sorribes Tormo said.

“So for me it’s going to be very challenging, but very nice, as well. I will try to enjoy, I will try to improve, I will try to, as I said, make it long, stay as much as I can on court with her. It’s going to be a privilege for me and I’ll try to take it that way,” she added.

Sara Sorribes Tormo and Iga Swiatek have previously squared off twice in 2023, with the Spanish player losing both times. In any case, the World No 32 believes that she can defeat the Pole this week at the United Cup.

Even though she was in awe of Swiatek’s skills, Sorribes Tormo recalled a similar situation in which she ultimately defeated former World No 1 Ashleigh Barty. She also added that, in the end, she will view the match against Swiatek as a fruitful learning experience.

“I played Barty two years ago, which for me was the real test before Iga, and I remember when I was warming up with her just looking at her, like, oh, my God, how good are you doing that? At the end of the day, I beat her.

“So I don’t think it’s impossible.

“Of course I don’t think that,” Sorribes Tormo said.

“But I don’t even think it’s bad. If you take it a positive way, if you take, like, you respect her and you know she’s going to do the good things and that makes you have a better mentality because you’re not going to get mad if you’re not winning the points, because you know she’s doing it better. If you take it that way, for me, it’s positive,” she added.

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