Iga Swiatek: "Losing the WTA ranking throne? It's not a problem"

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Iga Swiatek will try to defend the title won last year at the Roland Garros. The Polish player will be forced to deal with the leg problem that prevented her from playing the third set at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. In fact, in the semifinal against Elena Rybakina, Swiatek withdrew after feeling discomfort in her leg during the tie-break that she reopened the match in the second set.

Swiatek: "First ranking position at risk? It doesn't change much"

In the press conference, on the eve of the French Open, Iga expalained: "Fortunately nothing too serious happened. I stopped for two days. I'm still recovering from the leg injury, but I'll be ready to face the first round.

This is the most important thing for me. It's a completely different situation than last season. It's nice to be able to play many matches against the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Rybakina. We know our rivals' game pretty well and we have to look for different solutions sometimes. But it's really thrilling, something I've never really felt in my career.

That's what the Big 3 had to do, who played more than thirty games against each other. I'm happy to learn new things, it's an additional motivation." Swiatek could lose the top WTA ranking to Sabalenka for the first time. A possibility that doesn't seem to affect her mentality: "I didn't even know it.

No problem. It doesn't change much for me." Finally, Swiatek dedicated a thought to her idol Rafael Nadal, who will not participate in the Roland Garros this year: "I've always been rooting for him. It won't be there this time, so it's not easy to single out my favourite.

It's sad because we all want him to play in Paris. But it was the right decision to make. When you suffer a serious injury, it's always best to stop and recover. I hope he will play the tournament next season. The most important thing is that he is healthy and happy."