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'The pressure was getting to her:' Iga Swiatek’s coach opens up about the hectic 2023 race for No. 1 ranking

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Nikhil Sonmali | Last updated 4/24/24

Last year’s battle for the WTA year-end finish was strongly between Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka for months. The Polish star fought hard weeks before the year ended to topple Sabalenka, but that came at a prize, as her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski revealed.

For context, Swiatek began the 2023 season as World No.1 despite not winning the Australian Open. She maintained her position by winning the French Open and reaching the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon. However, semifinal reach in Canada and the Cincinnati Open saw her lead reduce leading up to the US Open.

A Round of 16 exit at the 2023 US Open was not enough to keep her lead as eventual runners-up Aryna Sabalenka leapfrogged her in No.1 position. The 22-year-old fought hard in the Asian swing before ultimately winning the WTA Finals to regain her spot. She ended the year as WTA No.1.

Tomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek’s coach, admitted that the pressure to regain her position got to the Polish star despite efforts to unburden herself.

I can’t really speak for Iga. We talk about it, but everyone keeps something to themselves. I think the pressure was getting to her. Me too. You can’t turn off your emotions. We are aware of how it works and we try not to burden ourselves with too much. Very often I simply don’t know what advantage Iga has over her rivals, how many points they are missing. We try not to constantly check the rankings.
Tomasz Wiktorowski said via sport.fakt

Iga Swiatek aiming for her second Masters 1000 title of 2024 in Madrid

Iga Swiatek will be aiming for her second Masters 1000 title of this season in Madrid. The 22-year-old who is known to perform best on clay court will begin her Madrid Open campaign in the second round after earning a first-round bye. She will play either Wang Xiyu in the second round.

She will likely face Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the third round and two-time Madrid finalist Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round if all goes smoothly for the Pole ace. Swiatek already has two titles this season and reached the semifinals in Stuttgart, making her one of the favorites to win the title.

Last year, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka after reaching her first-ever Madrid final. With that experience, she stands a vital chance to win the top-tier clay title.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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