'Expectations around me are higher', says Swiatek ahead of French Open

Iga Swiatek’s form is raising temperatures in tennis. The world No.1 is coming into the French Open on a 28-match winning streak which has given her five titles. “I know that I did some great stuff this season, so I feel like I can play freely now and not think I have to win some tournaments or I have to win some matches or I have to save some points,” the 20-year-old said in an interaction.

“This year the pressure that I always put on myself is a little bit lower. Expectations around me are higher, but I never had a problem to cut that off.” Swiatek’s run in the first half of the season puts her in position to chase down Venus Williams’ ‘streak of the century’ 35 straight wins, achieved in 2000. The longest since the turn of the millennium.

That Justine Henin tallied 32 successive wins in 2008, and in 2013, Serena Williams won 34 straight matches only emphasizes the solidity Swiatek brings to the top of the women’s game. Not since Angelique Kerber in 2016 has one woman won more than one Slam in a year. In 2017 and 18 the women’s draw at the majors threw up eight different champions and 2021 listed two – Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Raducanu – in the first-time winner’s circle.

Swiatek is mixing things to strike the right balance. “This year it's been easier for me not to think about matches, there are many things we can do like go sightseeing, even go on a walk. Last year, with the bubbles, it was pretty hard,” the 2020 French Open champion said.