Iga Swiatek: "Coming back to play here is something new"

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Iga Swiatek reached the third round of the BNP Paribas Open 2023. The world no.1 eliminated the American Claire Liu 6-0 6-1 without any problems. In the third round of the California tournament, Iga will face 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

After the victory against Liu, Swiatek explained: "Coming back to play here after the great result obtained last year is something new. I had the goal before the start of the tournament, to increase my energy level a bit through some specific training sessions because that's the thing more difficult to do when everything is going my way.

I certainly was very clever in apparently paving the way for myself. Claire in fact used that one moment where I didn't play as aggressively as I should have and this goes to show that if I hadn't put in the court from the beginning the energy I put in the match would have complicated and not a little.

Therefore, I'm quite happy that I was able to close the match quickly."

Iga Swiatek: "I feel the pressure"

Just by winning the last editions of the WTA 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami, Iga Swiatek reached the top of the world ranking for the first time in her career.

Looking down on everyone, however, comes with a lot more pressure. Swiatek, on the eve of Indian Wells, explained: "I thought it was impossible to become number one. I exceeded all my expectations, everyone wants to be in this position.

But of course it comes with a lot of pressure. After Doha and Dubai, I felt good. I won a WTA 500 and reached the final in a 1000. People were surprised after my loss in the final. This made me think that only last year I would have been very happy with this result.

But reading all these comments, I felt I hadn't done enough. Each tournament has its own story. If I play well, my points increase. I'm sure I won't be able to defend all the points, but that doesn't mean I'll lose the lead. I always feel like I have a target on my back.

It's a completely different situation and I have yet to adjust. I try not to read too much news, I don't want this to affect me. People's attitudes towards me have changed, and I don't think this is a positive change. I have much more pressure, expectations are always high. I have to try to deal with them as best I can."