Swiatek: “The rest of the WTA circuit is playing better and better”

Iga Swiatek assessed the greater demand that currently exists in the women’s circuit just before making her debut at the WTA in Rome 2023, a tournament in which she is seeking her third consecutive title.

WTA Rome Draw

WTA Rome results

For the first time in the last two years, Iga Swiatek once again experienced the bitter taste of defeat in a match on clay. The current number one in the world gave up in the final of the WTA Mutua Madrid Open against Aryna Sabalenka, seeing how the distance between her and the Belarusian in the world ranking is narrowing.

However, the Pole hopes to turn the tables on the International BNL of Italy. In the tournament in Rome, Swiatek already knows what it is to win, and twice, having won the champion’s trophy in the last two editions. In her appearance prior to her debut at the event, the world number one assured that the average level of the WTA circuit is higher every day and that, therefore, it will not be easy to conquer Rome again despite the fact that she is facing one of his favorite tournaments.

The requirement of the tournament in Rome

“It’s hard, it’s always hard. It doesn’t matter how the finals are. Last year against Ons (Jabeur) it was tighter than what the scoreboard reflected. I remember that it was a very physical game and in which any point mattered. In 2021 I almost lost to Strycova hereI think it was in the quarterfinals. Of course I have great memories of my performances in Rome, but I don’t expect this tournament to be any easier than the others. It’s going to be tough, the rest of the circuit is playing better and better. We’ll see how I play this week“, declared a Swiatek whose first rival in the second round will be the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkovafinalist of Roland Garros 2021, a hard first touchstone for the Polish, who will not be able to add a single more point in the rest of the tour on clay.