Iga Swiatek made it completely clear throughout her pre-tournament presser on the WTA Finals that her first and essential purpose in Riyadh shall be to ship her greatest tennis and never to consider probably overthrowing Aryna Sabalenka from the world No. 1 place.
As you in all probability know properly by now, the Pole misplaced the world No. 1 place on October twenty first after the WTA utilized zero-pointers over not collaborating in six WTA 500 tournaments. Since then, extra zero-pointers have been utilized and factors from final 12 months’s season-ending event had been additionally dropped.
So now, Swiatek trails Sabalenka by 1,046 rating factors. Whereas the Pole might nonetheless presumably end 2024 because the top-ranked participant on the planet, the Belarusian is by far in pole place to say the Yr-Finish No. 1 award.
“I do not. I wish to play one of the best type of tennis. That is what I have to do,” the 23-year-old responded when requested if she knew what she wanted to do on the WTA Finals to reclaim the world No. 1 spot.
What are the eventualities for Swiatek and Sabalenka?
If the Belarusian wins all of her three group-stage matches in Riyadh, the battle shall be sealed in her favor. If the 26-year-old even solely wins a match or two within the Spherical Robin however nonetheless reaches the ultimate, that additionally ensures her end 2024 because the top-ranked participant.
In terms of Swiatek’s probabilities, she just about has to win all of her 5 matches however even that might not be sufficient – she should go undefeated – hope that Sabalenka would not win all of her group matches – and that the Belarusian would not make it previous the semifinal stage.
It must be famous that only one loss within the Spherical Robin stage would in all probability end result within the five-time Grand Slam champion shedding the battle.
However whereas the Pole needs to reclaim the highest spot at one level, she gave credit score to her largest rival and acknowledged that the 26-year-old deserved to be on this place.
“Clearly we’re each preventing for this spot. Yeah, it has been us mainly type of over the previous few years. Yeah, I imply, I’m within the event. I clearly wish to play my greatest sport right here and win this event. I am simply going to deal with my first match and do every little thing step-by-step,” Swiatek stated.
“Truly, I do not know, it was simply good to observe with Aryna as a result of we have not performed that shortly, since in all probability 2022. It has been a very long time. I am probably not certain why (smiling). Yeah, it was a extremely good observe. She’s an excellent participant. She additionally type of deserves to be world No. 1. For certain I’ll battle for me to be in that place.”
Swiatek dismisses that she is feeling rusty in Riyadh
When the brand new world No. 2 takes on Barbora Krejcikova on Sunday, that shall be her first match in two months – she hasn’t performed since shedding to Jessica Pegula within the US Open quarterfinal.
Since then, the 23-year-old has undergone some main adjustments as she is now not working with Tomasz Wiktorowski however with Wim Fissette.
Forward of the beginning of her WTA Finals run, Swiatek was requested how she dealt with her latest choices and the way she feels understanding that she arrived with much less match play than her rivals.
“I’ll reply the second query first. I believe it is not going to be an issue. I do not really feel rusty. I performed some factors, as properly, right here with Aryna and Qinwen. Additionally I have been training that approach. I do not really feel like I missed lots. Actually, it wasn’t like a extremely lengthy break nonetheless. In all probability a bit longer than a standard pre-season,” the Pole stated.
“I spent this time nonetheless enjoying tennis and for certain specializing in discovering new coach, making this transition. It is all the time difficult. For me it is a resolution hopefully for years as a result of I take a look at my profession type of long-term. Yeah, we’ll see.”
When requested immediately what she hoped to enhance underneath the steerage of Fissette, the four-time French Open winner admitted she would goal to get some work on her serve.
“If I’ll reply that, then all people goes to know what’s my weaker aspect (smiling). No, I imply, I believe it is type of apparent. I for certain wish to enhance my serve, as I have been doing for previous years. I really feel like I nonetheless have to proceed that. For certain I am not an entire participant. I believe tactically there are numerous methods I might go and have extra selection on courtroom. Wim has some good concepts,” Swiatek stated.
