Iga Swiatek addresses claim that other players have been making about her

Iga Swiatek admitted she was fairly pleased with the efficiency delivered towards Sorana Cirstea in her Doha opener and in addition addressed claims that she is turning into a extra offensive and attacking participant. 

After struggling a shock Australian Open third-round loss to Linda Noskova, Swiatek returned to motion on Monday as she destroyed world No. 22 Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-1 to start out her Doha title protection in a really spectacular method.

Towards Cirstea, Swiatek missed out on two break factors within the second sport however stored her focus as she nonetheless simply received the opening set after breaking the Romanian within the fourth and sixth video games. Within the second set, Swiatek did not handle to interrupt Cirstea within the first sport of the set however then received six consecutive video games to seal a two-set win with simply two misplaced video games. 

The match lasted an hour and one minute and it was a fairly one-sided battle as Swiatek did not enable Cirstea a single break level, whereas incomes 11 break factors and changing six instances en path to registering a dominant win. 

“For certain I am pleased with my efficiency, and I really feel prefer it was a very strong match. I sort of felt like I used to be capable of maintain my focus from the start until the top. Then, you already know, after each sport I used to be extra assured and I may even, you already know, loosen up a little bit bit extra on the finish. So I am completely happy that I simply performed strong,” Swiatek mentioned in her press convention.

Swiatek on a declare that different gamers have been making about her

Swiatek, who can be turning 23 in Could, was a powerful pressure on clay proper from the beginning of her profession as she grew to become a Grand Slam champion on the 2020 French Open. However though Swiatek managed to win a Grand Slam very early, it was evident that she nonetheless had to enhance her sport on laborious and grass. 

For the reason that 2022 season – a yr wherein Swiatek was completely dominant – the Pole has additionally established herself as a powerful pressure on laborious. And one of many most important causes behind Swiatek enhancing her sport on laborious is the truth that the Pole has turn out to be extra aggressive. 

Following Swiatek’s win over Cirstea, a reporter advised Swiatek that some gamers have been saying that she is “turning into far more offensive or attacking sooner than in comparison with a few years in the past.” Swiatek was then requested to share her ideas on that declare. 

“Effectively, I feel the largest distinction was, you already know, in 2022 once I began, you already know, working extra on this offensive formations it was a little bit bit simpler for me to make use of them throughout the match, and for certain I felt like I’ve extra selection and I may use it,” Swiatek defined.

“I might say it relies upon. I’ve instances the place I really feel, yeah, like, I am taking part in generally even too aggressively, so I am nonetheless studying the best way to stability that to make use of all these benefits that, you already know, being a terrific protection participant and having this, you already know, means to play excessive topspin and the balls which might be going to push my opponent farther from the baseline and however having the ability to generally go ahead and play extra flat.

“So I really feel like I can do each, however I really feel like I nonetheless must be taught, you already know, the best way to handle it the easiest way and decide the best options and proper tournaments and proper surfaces. However my coach is actually sensible and he has a superb eye, so he all the time tells me what would be the most suitable choice, in order that’s actually useful.”

Swiatek pleased with how her forehand clicked towards Cirstea

Within the Australian Open third spherical, Noskova actually went after Swiatek’s forehand and tried to focus on that particular shot. However towards Cirstea, Swiatek did not have any difficulties on the forehand aspect because it labored very easily. After beating Cirstea, Swiatek admitted to reporters that she labored on her forehand since her Australian Open loss.

“Effectively, I am getting there (smiling). No, I imply, as you may see on the match, it labored, you already know. We now have been working laborious for it to be higher,” Swiatek acknowledged.

In the meantime, Swiatek additionally highlighted that the laborious floor in Doha is “slower” than the laborious floor at Melbourne Park.

“Oh, yeah, for certain. It is for certain far more slower, yeah,” Swiatek mentioned.

Since Swiatek had a first-round bye in Doha, her opener got here within the second spherical and she or he has been via to the round-of-16 after beating Cirstea. For a spot within the Doha quarterfinal, Swiatek performs towards the winner of the match between No. 14 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and Erika Andreeva. 

Whereas Swiatek has but to be taught the identify of her Doha round-of-16 opponent, she would be the favourite whoever she meets.