Iga Swiatek knows this year’s trip to Melbourne carries unprecedented interest.
The noise from the outside was unavoidable since she captured arguably her most unlikely of the majors on Wimbledon’s Centre Court last July.
Not since Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros in 2012 has a woman completed the career Grand Slam.
Not since Serena Williams 23 years ago has a woman claimed the last piece of the puzzle at Melbourne Park.
In the next fortnight, Swiatek can do both.
“Honestly, since the beginning of the year, there are many people coming to me and talking to me about it,” Swiatek said.
“I'm really just focusing on, like, day-by-day work. This is how it's always been for me.
“This is how I actually was able to achieve the success that I already have, just focusing really on grinding, match by match.”
The world No.2 expected the chatter to amplify even before she touched down in Sydney for Poland’s eventual run to a maiden United Cup triumph.
It will intensify ahead of Monday’s opening-round meeting with Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue, and is bound to rise further with each hurdle cleared, not that she was too thrilled on Friday to hear about any projected roadblocks down the track just yet.
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“Winning a Grand Slam is tough. A lot of things have to come together to do that. Yeah, it's a tough tournament, so I have no expectations,” she said.
“Obviously it would be a dream come true [to win the career Grand Slam]. This is not, like, my clear goal that I wake up with. I'm thinking more about how I want to play, what I want to improve, like, day by day.”
Around the same time that she overwhelmed Amanda Anisimova – a flawless final in which she did not concede a game – for her sixth major title in southwest London last July, Swiatek had more to celebrate off-court with the launch of her foundation.
Established to assist aspiring Polish athletes in Olympic sports, it was a chance to give back, considering Swiatek’s own experiences navigating the great unknowns in her early years.
“I think since I started earning big money, I honestly was kind of confused – I mean, happy obviously – but confused in a way that it wasn't like that always. It's not like we always had money for me to continue,” Swiatek said.
“I know what kind of trouble … young athletes face. I just wanted to use my resources, both financially and also in terms of the experience of my team, to help them maybe go over some obstacles … It's inspiring for other people. So I wish they could just focus on that and be the GOATs in their areas.”
Last week’s United Cup victory was a dream start to the season for Polish fans, many of whom followed along from back home during the depths of winter.
While Swiatek succumbed in her last two singles matches – against Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic – it was a chance to savour a Polish team triumph for the first time.
The more serious nature of a major campaign was next, but she was at least in a healthy frame of mind to keep that outside noise around a potential career Grand Slam in check.
“What happened off the court, like having good atmosphere, like having good bond between the players is a big part of that,” she said.
“At least I just told myself that maybe I could contribute a little bit with that if I didn't get the points playing tennis.
“I was really happy about it. I honestly had a lot of fun. Last time I had this fun after winning was after Wimbledon, so it's been some time.
“I think it's a great thing for Polish tennis. Hopefully it's going to be remembered.”