“Ash Barty’s retirement was a challenge” Iga Swiatek’s psychologist discusses the change of plans for the World No. 1 after the Australian’s sudden retirement
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Daria Abramowicz, Ash Barty, Iga Swiatek
3-time Grand Slam champion Ash Barty announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 25 making Iga Swiatek the new World No. 1 as Iga had won two WTA-1000 titles on the trot and confirmed her ascension to the top with a third consecutive title clinched by winning the Miami Open. The Pole, who was 20 years old then has been doing well since becoming the top-ranked player as she is yet to lose a match since then and has gone on to win three titles including the 2022 French Open as the World No. 1 on the WTA Tour.
While the whole of tennis fraternity has been in awe of Iga, there have been few critics who believe that Swiatek’s success is a result of Barty’s retirement and had the Australian been still playing, Iga could not have enjoyed the success that she is having right now. The point is not totally biased as Barty had 8331 points after winning the 2022 Australian Open with then World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka with 5698 points and Swiatek on the 4th spot with 4456 points, a deficit of 3875 points between her and Barty.
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“Our long-term goals haven’t changed”: Iga Swiatek’s psychologist
Swiatek’s team has included her psychologist Daria Abramowicz who travels with her at all tournament sites for helping her with mental recharge before and after the game and to ensure that she is in the right frame of mind at all times. Swiatek has often voiced the importance of having a psychologist with her at all times and never forgets to mention the importance Daria has in the Pole’s team. The doc recently spoke in defence of Iga’s criticism justifying that Barty’s retirement was a chance that came her way but it hasn’t been just an advantage but also a challenge.
“It has nothing to do with developing an athletic disposition, improving motor skills or mental development of Iga. Counterintuitively, most of our long-term goals haven’t changed at all since the start of the year, despite the end of Ashleigh Barty’s career. Due to Iga‘s current position, the short-term goals have changed slightly. This end of career was more of a challenge than a boost,” said Daria, in comments reported by Welovetennis.
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