'I would love it' - Iga Swiatek desperate for chance to play Serena Williams at Cincinnati Masters ahead of US Open

Iga Swiatek has said she «would love» to play Serena Williams for the first time in her career as the two prepare for their first round matches at the Cincinnati Masters. Swiatek is world No. 1 after winning six tournaments this year, including Roland-Garros, but she has never played her predecessor and 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams.

Ad Time could be running out after Serena announced her intentions to withdraw from tennis following the US Open. WTA CincinnatiRaducanu relishing ‘amazing opportunity’ to play Serena at Cincinnati Masters17 HOURS AGO And Swiatek admitted she's struggled even to meet one of her heroes, who she remembers watching on TV. «I would love to just see how it is to see her on the other side of the net,” Swiatek said.

“I have a hard time catching eye contact with Serena. It’s tough because she always had so many people around her, and I'm pretty shy and when I look at her I kind of forget that I'm here as the world No.1. “I feel like I'm the kid from kindergarten.” 'I'm hoping there's a day off' — Murray overcomes cramp to beat Wawrinka Raducanu relishing 'amazing' opportunity to play Serena in Cincinnati With a win in Cincinnati, Swiatek could become the first player since Williams to win seven titles before the US Open.

Yet she has endured a relative drought this summer after failing to win her last three. Swiatek said that she has tried to take a step back and think long-term, rather than obsessing over wins. “I'm trying to look long term at whole process and maybe think [where I want to be] in the next season,” Swiatek said Monday during her pre-tournament press session.