Iga Swiatek on her pride at Australian Open run and trying to emulate Ashleigh Barty

Poland's Iga Swiatek, who won the 2020 French Open title as a 19-year-old, is the latest WTA Tour star to feature in a BBC Sport column.

After losing to Danielle Collins in the Australian Open semi-finals, Swiatek talks about her pride of consistently going deep at the Grand Slams, her motivation to dominate the majors and knowing which areas of her game she needs to improve.

Even though I lost in the semi-finals here in Melbourne, my thoughts shortly after the match are that I'm really proud of myself, particularly of my consistency at the Grand Slams.

I have reached at least the fourth round in the past six Grand Slam tournaments — something which no other player has done in the women's singles.

For a few years now, there have been a lot of different women's Grand Slam champions and not one player dominating them in the way, for example, Serena Williams used to.

I am aware of the unpredictability in the Grand Slams and it does motivate me. I want to be that player who is being consistent.

Ash Barty has been the world number one for a long time and is showing you can be consistent at the highest level. With my results, I'm not at her level but I'm only 20 and maybe I will get there in a few years.

She is the kind of player who is giving me hope that I can do that.

Of course I am aware of how open the Grand Slams can be. Even though I try not to look at the draws when I'm playing, it is impossible not to be aware of what's happening.

So I have thought, actually, I could be the one who can find that consistency in them.

I'm not winning lots of tournaments yet but getting to the second week of the Grand Slams right now — at my age and at this stage of my career — is something which I'm very proud of.

I wouldn't have even thought