Iga Swiatek has ‘target on her back’ and is ‘still the player to beat’ says Chris Evert ahead of Indian Wells

Eurosport expert Chris Evert believes Iga Swiatek has “a target on her back” and is still “the player to beat” on the WTA Tour. This year has been a mixed season for Swiatek as she lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open to Elena Rybakina, came back in February with a dominant week at the Qatar Open to win her first title of 2023, but then lost in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Ad It is coming up to a year since Swiatek turned world No.

1, following Ash Barty’s surprise retirement, and she has a big lead over the rest of the tour in the WTA rankings. WTA Dubai‘I’m just human’ – Swiatek defends herself from fans’ high expectations28/02/2023 AT 11:24 “We know she has the game physically,” Evert told Eurosport's Arnold Montgault. “We know she's a great competitor, and she's a great athlete.

She's got wonderful tools, and a wonderful skill-set in tennis. But it seems like in the matches that she's lost, that emotional part has broken down. “[Novak] Djokovic is almost like a machine.

He goes out there and, you know, he can just have that tunnel vision and focus and not let his emotions get in the way. I think Iga has shown in some matches that she has let her emotions get the best of her. “So she would just have to be aware of that, I think.

But she is still the player to beat, no matter what you say. “She will lose once in a while, but she's still the player to beat, and she does have a target on her back. Nobody understands the pressures of being number one unless you are number one.