“I can adjust and choose the best kind of game” Iga Swiatek full of confidence ahead of her “favourite swing of the season”

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek is all set to play in her first WTA Tour event since ascending to the top of the rankings. Having clinched the Sunshine Double, Iga skipped the first week’s events on Clay having earlier committed to playing in the 2022 Charleston Open but later withdrew to take some rest.

Along with a much-needed break, Iga also prepared for the BJK Cup Qualifiers where the Poles took on Romania and Iga returned with straight-set wins in both her matches dropping only 1 game throughout the two matches. Iga will finally make her Clay debut for the season at the 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart where she will also make her tournament debut.

Speaking with the press on the Media Day at the tournament, Swiatek spoke of her plans going ahead into the season, especially on Clay as she comes after playing 31 consecutive matches on hardcourts and how will she cope with the sudden change in the surface which is relatively slower as the clay holds off the ball a little longer and requires big changes to a player’s game.

“I mean I’ve been playing on clay for two days, so I don’t know. But for sure having more variety and being able to attack and also being able to play the same kind of tennis I was playing last year, like higher topspin, having these two options is really helpful because I can adjust and choose the best kind of game to play against my opponent. 

“Honestly, I think I can do both things and the biggest challenge is going to be when I’m going to choose the right tactics or right skill. So I feel more confident right now and I feel like I have just more options. It’s kind of the same as it was on hard court. I have to be deadly honest that this is probably my favourite swing of the season and I feel good,” said Iga.

Iga Swiatek to start her campaign in Stuttgart against World No. 342

Having got a bye in the first round due to her seeding, Iga will make her Clay debut for the season against World No. 342 Eva Lys who enters the main-draw as a qualifier. She then defeated World No. 38 Viktorija Golubic in 3-sets in over 3 hours playing one of the longest matches of the season on the Tour. Lys is playing in her first-ever WTA event and by defeating Golubic achieved her first Top-50 win in her first match against a Top-50 player.

Also Read: Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova announces her pregnancy on the eve of her 35th birthday

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