Iga Świątek found out about the Australian Open ladder on Thursday. In the first round, her opponent will be the winner of nine Grand Slam doubles tournaments – Katerina Siniakova. The competition will start at the beginning of next week. The Pole will want to take revenge for her failure last year, when she was eliminated from this tournament in the 1/16 finals after defeating Linda Noskova. However, experts point out one key problem.
The expert warns Świątek. This is the main challenge ahead of the Australian Open. “The key is…”
It's about the mental sphere. Świątek went through a lot of difficult moments not so long ago. This is mainly about the confusion over the doping scandal and the change of coach. Former British tennis player and current expert Tim Henman is not concerned about her physical preparation, but about her mental condition. – Her stress level is often crucial, as it can make her stiffen up a bit or lose concentration. I think it will be a big challenge, because the last few months have certainly cost her a lot of nerves. That's why I'm curious how she will be able to concentrate in Melbourne when the Australian Open starts – he said in an interview with “Super Express“.
The expert agrees that Świątek can mobilize himself in difficult moments of the match. However, unpleasant external stimuli may turn out to be a problem, e.g. recurring questions about doping. – She is very mentally strong, which she showed on the court, coping with extremely difficult situations and winning Grand Slam tournaments. However, she is also clearly a sensitive person. She clearly cares about things, so I wonder if she'll be able to block out all the noise because it's not easy. When you lose concentration and don't focus on every point, even when you're at your best, you have a problem, he noted.
The expert clearly talks about the game between Świątek and Sabalenka. “It's always a challenge”
Henman also pointed out one element in the game itself that our tennis player should work on with her new coach Wim Fissette. – For Iga Świątek, playing with strong-hitting players, such as Sabalenka or Rybakina, is always a challenge, because she is usually the one who dictates the conditions on the court with aggressive play. Defensive play is something that Świątek can still improve, he said.
Play in the Australian Open main draw will start on January 12. The tournament will last until January 26.