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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday September 1, 2022


Flushing Meadows, NY—Already a two-time major champion, and the reigning World No.1, Iga Swiatek can be proud of her consistency and her ability to continue to find ways to evolve as the pressure that surrounds her only grows.

Tennis Express

It’s something that the Pole is most proud of, and as she pushed into the third round at the US Open, thanks to a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2017 champion Sloane Stephens, she is hoping to carry that consistency forward into the second week.

“Winning a Grand Slam is kind of life-changing moment,” Swiatek told reporters after her Day 4 victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium. "That was my goal, to be consistent after it, and kind of to prove myself and the others that I can play just in other tournaments on this kind of level. I think, yeah, I proved that. So I'm pretty proud of that.”


What has Swiatek done that other players, like Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina, have struggled with? It’s hard to put a finger on it, but it’s clear from her results, both at the Slams and at the smaller events, that Swiatek has what it takes to be a once-in-a-generation talent.

Swiatek gave reporters some insight into the challenges of coping with new status after winning a groundbreaking title, which she did in 2022 when she stormed to the podium in Paris.

“I remember having a few months after Roland Garros where my main focus was not going the right way, because I was also thinking of how to use that success and how to grow business-wise. Then I just realized that the most important thing is just to play well and I should focus on training and the things that are on court.”

Swiatek benefits from a stable team, and her family, that helped guide her through these potential pitfalls.

It shows in her tennis and in her general professionalism.

“I think just, you know, looking at what's important for you and what your priorities are is the most important thing, and also having good people around you,” she said.

The decision to part ways with longtime coach Piotr Sierzputowski (who is now with Shelby Rogers) and hire Tomasz Wiktorowski was also a difficult, but ultimately fruitful decision for the Pole. With Agnieszka Radwanska’s former coach helping her embrace a more aggressive mindset, she has thrived in 2022 like never before—she’s 52-7 on the year with six titles, including a second Slam at Roland-Garros.

Far from a one-Slam wonder, Swiatek is emerging as a title contender in New York as well. She entered the draw as a bit of an afterthought, after struggling during the North American hard court swing, but she’s playing better in New York, and growing confidence.

She’ll face American Lauren Davis in the third round, after sliding through two matches with just seven games dropped. Swiatek has already engineered 11 breaks of serve in two rounds.

“I'm pretty happy that I was solid from the beginning till the end, because in Cincinnati I had some ups and downs in terms of focus,” she said. “Right now I think I was more solid. So I'm pretty happy with the performance.”

 

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