Iga Swiatek quotes her favorite singer Taylor Swift to explain her difficulties being the World No. 1 as she talks of her changing perspectives

Swiatek acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with being World No. 1.

Iga Swiatek quotes her favorite singer Taylor Swift to explain her difficulties being the World No. 1 as she talks of her changing perspectives

Iga Swiatek and Taylor Swift (Credits: The Independent and The Economic Times)

Former world number 1 Iga Swiatek talked about the difficulties she had to endure while she was at the peak of WTA rankings. In an interview with Eurosport Polska, the Polish took the example of the biggest popstar of the world Taylor Swift to explain her perspective on the tennis journey.

Swiatek began by acknowledging the immense pressure that comes with being world number 1, comparing it to the complicated dynamics of the music industry, as explained by Taylor Swift in an interview. “It’s stu*id to quote Taylor Swift, but she said in one of the interviews that the music industry is entertainment & it should be fun, but everything that’s happening around makes it seem like The Hunger Games,” she said.

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Swiatek asserted that she feels exactly the same way when she is on a tour. She went onto explain how her belief about the tennis circuit has changed over time, especially since her breakout in 2019. “I remember in 2019, when I went on tour, I had a different perspective. I was able to appreciate that I travel to these great places and that I’m at the stage where I can play in WTA tournaments. The perspective has changed tremendously,” she shared.

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Balancing success, pressure, and perspective

The 21-year-old went on to explore the irony of her recent success, particularly in the 2022 season. Swiatek stated that in a typical season, winning a Grand Slam tournament would be the pinnacle achievement that would legitimize her entire season. Swiatek, on the other hand, is struggling with the concept of success and failure in the context of her current season, which has seen her win many titles, including a Grand Slam.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Credit: X/@iga_swiatek)

“For me, this is a paradox of all this and something that’s difficult for me,” Swiatek admitted. She blamed her contradictory emotions on the external pressures and expectations that come with being the World No. 1 player. She did, however, emphasize the significance of having a strong team of people who help her retain a healthy perspective.

“Because of what I hear around me, I’m starting to think this way, but I have good people around me to explain this perspective to me and that it’s not like that at all,” she concluded. (Source – Eurosport Polska)

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