If the saying holds true that a contender is only as good as their last result, Iga Swiatek’s rivals could be in for a tough time of it this Australian summer.
Having lost her grip on the world No.1 ranking in September, the Pole brushed past the incumbent – defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka – and the in-form Jessica Pegula back-to-back for the WTA Finals trophy in Cancun.
It was an emphatic statement, the ultimate exclamation mark on a season in which she retained her Roland Garros crown but fell short of the heights reached in 2022.
“This season was totally different. Lots of ups and downs and some struggles that we had to deal with,” Swiatek said. “At the end of the season, that's basically the only thing I can think about right now 'cause I remember it the best, and it was really exciting.
“I don't think it ever probably happened in the history of tennis. Playing these final matches in Cancun with such a baggage on my shoulders in terms of rankings, it gave me a lot of confidence.
“I learned a lot about myself. I'm going to take it in 2024. Honestly, I'm looking ahead for these tournaments that are going to happen here in Australia for me.
“I want to take it step by step. I feel more prepared for sure to deal with the pressure of being world No.1 this year than last year.”
While she succumbed to Pegula in a lop-sided United Cup semifinal in Sydney last January, Swiatek arrived at Melbourne Park as top seed and the player most tipped would triumph at the end of the fortnight.
Despite few difficulties in the early rounds, a rampaging Elena Rybakina put paid to her title hopes in the fourth round en route to her second major final in three Grand Slam showings.
While Swiatek had failed to build on a semifinal run from the year before, there was an upside to last year’s earlier-than-expected departure.
“I don't feel like I need to defend a lot,” the 22-year-old said. “But honestly, I never think about stuff like that.
“When you are a defending champion, obviously there is something else to the tournament. I feel like I can kind of take it easy.
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“I haven't won Australian Open yet, so I can only kind of look forward and try to achieve my goals. But really for now, we're just starting the season, so I'll focus on the first matches to get into the rhythm and to just see what I learned during the pre-season and how I can just put it into matches.”
The world No.1 is guaranteed at least two United Cup singles matches in Perth – against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia and Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo – with more should Poland advance.
She began with a thumping 6-2 6-2 win over Haddad Maia, ending the world No.11's seven-match winning streak. She faces Sorribes Tormo on the first day of 2024, looking to extend her own 12-match unbeaten run.
There will be a chance, too, to pick up valuable mixed doubles matches under pressure alongside Hubert Hurkacz, a likely precursor to the pair’s Olympic bid at Paris 2024.
While better equipped to handle expectations since her return to the top spot, Swiatek accepted some days it weighed more heavily than others.
“It depends on the situation, my mood and mindset, kind of. It can really be motivating and inspiring,” Swiatek said. “There are plenty of tournaments, there were plenty of tournaments, where I really feel like I'm using that as an opportunity to have better confidence and to even have an impact on my opponents mentally a little bit.
“Also, I had some tournaments where I felt like the pressure is pretty big. So I guess as in life, there are going to be ups and downs.
“For now I'm really enjoying the fact that I actually did it last year, and I came back to be world No.1 at the end of the season, and I'm really proud of that.”