Some might expect players to make the most of it when they get the opportunity to play a tournament in their home city. However, Iga Swiatek has a different perspective.
The world No.1 is headlining this week’s Poland Open in Warsaw where she is the only top 30 player taking part. The WTA 250 event is taking place on the clay and is being held at the Legia Tennis Centre. Swiatek is undoubtedly relishing the familiar surroundings she is playing in but she doesn’t want to get too comfortable.
This is why instead of staying in her Warsaw home this week, the two-time Grand Slam champion has decided to instead be based at a hotel along with her team. She is currently coached by Tomasz Wiktorowski who has previously worked with Agnieszka Radwanska.
“I’m trying to simulate the conditions as they are usually on the tour, so I don’t really live at home,” Swiatek told reporters on Thursday. “I do it similar to footballers, I think. I moved to a hotel, my team is there with me. In a way, it’s easier because the routines stay the same. At home, I always find something to do. I’d rather focus on resting up and in a hotel, there are less distractions.”
Coming into Friday’s quarter-finals in Warsaw, Swiatek has dropped just eight games in two matches played. In the first round, she thrashed world No.82 Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2. Then in the last 16, she beat Romanian qualifier Gabriela Lee 6-3, 6-2.
“At first it was tough to get used to her lefty spin, so I’m happy that during the match I was able to learn from my mistakes,” she said following her win over Lee. “I was finally able to position myself well, although today was a little bit nervous, less clean hits. Her spin and rhythm changes made it tough.”
Swiatek currently has an outstanding win-loss record of 46-4 this season on the WTA Tour. She was on a 37-match winning streak before suffering a shock loss to Alize Cornet in the third round at Wimbledon. So far in 2022 she has won six titles, including the French Open and four WTA 1000 tournaments.
In the quarter-finals of the Poland Open Swiatek will play former top 10 player Caroline Garcia who is currently ranked 45th in the world. If she is defeated, it will be her worst loss in terms of ranking since being beaten by World No.338 Ana Konjuh at the 2021 Miami Open.
Garcia is the second-highest ranked player remaining in the draw after Swiatek.