No pressure, just fun, says laid-back Iga Swiatek

French Open champion Isa Swiatek says there is no pressure on her to achieve at the Australian Open.

Swiatek, 19, said there was no anxiety or pressure to win ahead of the first slam of the year, rather she was simply ‘excited’ to be in Australia ready to play.

“Basically I have, like, some amount of stress, but it’s a normal amount,” she said today.

“I don’t feel more pressure than before French Open. Actually, I’m kind of confident that I can play good tennis, but it all depends on my preparation, on my attitude.

Iga Swiatek after her Roland-Garros triumph. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

“I’m trying to keep my expectations low, even though I did a really good pre-season.”

Swiatek told reporters her life had changed after her comprehensive victory over Sofia Kenin in Paris, but said she was just getting on with life.

“It’s not bothering. It’s really nice. In Poland it’s more often, but I’m really happy about it. It’s not a problem for me,” she said.

“Obviously I have more media obligations. Right now I feel like there are more eyes on me.

Iga Swiatek wins the Ladies Singles Final. Photo: Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd/Alamy Live News

“But it’s not like something new for me because even though I didn’t win many tournaments before, it was step by step since I was 14. So it’s Ok for me.

“Even though it seems really weird not to care before a tournament, sometimes it’s good because you can have this distance and you can see things not in an emotional way, but more rationally.

“I’m going to try to do that (at the Australian Open), but I don’t know if I can just snap fingers and do it.”

Peter Rowe

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