Iga Swiatek leaves Rome as the most popular participant in tennis, having reeled off 12 consecutive victories and within the course of turn into the third girl in historical past to have claimed the celebrated Madrid and Rome titles back-to-back.
The 22-year-old will head to Paris to attempt to turn into the second girl in historical past to say a uncommon clay-court triple by successful Madrid, Rome and Paris in the identical season. Solely 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, in 2013, has beforehand achieved the feat.
Although Swiatek would be the overwhelming favourite, the three-time Roland Garros champion prefers to maintain her deal with the controllables. She talks repeatedly about course of, about staying humble, and she or he backs up her phrases by by no means underestimating an opponent.
Sounds lots like 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in some ways, doesn’t it?
“Clearly I’m assured. I really feel like I am enjoying nice tennis,” Swiatek mentioned on Saturday after taking out Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3. “But it surely would not change the truth that I actually need to keep humble and actually centered on getting every thing step-by-step. Grand Slams are completely different. There may be completely different strain on the courtroom and off the courtroom.”
Now 36-4 on the season, and 14-1 on clay (77-10 lifetime), Swiatek says the work she has put in to enhance her serve helps her win matches on the most important phases this spring.
She solely misplaced 18 factors on serve in opposition to Sabalenka and saved every of the seven break factors she confronted. It’s an indication that she is ready to play the next share of service factors on her phrases, which permits her to dictate and dominate early and sometimes.
“General I attempt to deal with these factors as every other level. I am not feeling like I am underneath a lot strain,” she mentioned of the break factors she saved in opposition to Sabalenka as she claimed her twenty first profession title. “Possibly additionally as a result of I do know I am a terrific returner, even when I will get damaged, I can work it out.
“I believe on this match, my serve was form of actually serving to me. All this work that we have been placing truly paid off in these necessary moments. I am actually proud of that as a result of that is what we have been working for.”
Swiatek will attempt to carry the identical vibe into Paris, the place she has gained 25 of 26 matches because the begin of her title run in 2020. The Pole is on a 14-match Paris successful streak and can bid to turn into the primary girl to win three straight Roland Garros titles since Justine Henin in 2007.
She says she is much less confused this 12 months as a result of she is considering much less about rankings and extra about staying locked into the method.
“I am chilled out as a result of I form of knew that if I will work onerous and if I will be in the proper mindset, that is achievable,” she mentioned. “I am completely satisfied I used to be so centered and disciplined all through the match to do this. I really feel like I am in the proper place.”
All of it provides as much as an incredible alternative for Swiatek, and a particularly tall job for anybody with designs on stopping her in Paris…
