Swiatek refuses to live in the past after runaway 2022 season

Iga Swiatek will not rely on past glories as the WTA No. 1 makes her start as top seed this week in Doha.

The winner of eight titles in 2022 – including the French and US Opens – made a stuttering start last month at the Australian Open, exiting in the fourth round against eventual finalist Elena Rybakina.

But the Pole is defending the title from a year ago and hoping to start utting her season right.

But Swiatek warned that a repeat of 2022 success can certainly not be guaranteed.

“Every year it’s a different story (at) every tournament,” she said prior to her first round in the Gulf.

“It just doesn’t make sense for me to think about last year’s tournament and this year’s tournament and think that it’s the same story.

“It’s not, because a lot can happen in one year.”

Swiatek admitted she was surprised at her domination last season.

“I wasn’t expecting it (No. 1) to happen last year.

“I wasn’t really thinking about that throughout the whole season. I was just doing my job and playing as best as possible, and it happened.

“I will think about the future a little bit more, because I just feel like comparing all the time, it’s not going to be helpful.

“This is why it’s so hard to be consistent throughout your whole career. I’m kind of treating it as a challenge.”