Australian Open: Swiatek’s perfectionionism and more
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — As well as everything is going so far for Iga Swiatek — the No. — The No. Grand Slam titles overall; a tour-high eight trophies and a 37-match winning streak in 2022 — the 21-year-old from Poland is always looking to improve.
She is working on one thing at the moment. She is trying to be less hard on herself.
“I’m always going to have this part of me that is a perfectionist. When I’m not feeling comfortable on court, it’s kind of hard to not be harsh,” Swiatek said at Melbourne ParkShe is the most highly-selected woman in the country. the Australian Open Jule Niemeier will be her opponent in the Rod Laver Arena, as the tournament begins Monday.
“On the other hand, the most important thing is kind of to find this balance that, on court, for sure I want to get better and better,” Swiatek continued, “but off the court, the things that happen on the practice day don’t have to influence my whole day and my whole mood.”
Swiatek reached semifinals of the Australian Open for the first-time one year ago.
“We care so much and we give ourselves to this sport, that it’s sometimes tough to find this balance” between pushing oneself and easing up, Swiatek said. “But I’m getting better at it, for sure.”
She won the French Open in June and the U.S. Open September. In the fourth round, Niemeier was defeated in three sets.
Niemeier, a German 23-year-old currently ranked at 69th, has only made three Grand Slam appearances. These include a quarterfinal run in Wimbledon in July.
These are other facts about the Australian Open.
RETIREMENTS
There are plenty of storylines worth following over the next two weeks, but one underlying theme in the run-up to the tournament is who is no longer playing tennis — and who will be joining them in retirement soon. Sam Stosur, the 2011 U.S. Open singles champion and owner of four other Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles, already had stopped playing singles but says she will quit doubles after this Australian Open. Sania Mirza, who has won three Grand Slam titles apiece in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, said this event will mark the end of the road for her, too. Their departures will follow other notable ones in 2022. Serena Williams, Roger Federer Ash BartyAustralian Open champion, she stepped down at 25. Other retirees last season were Andrea Petkovic and Monica Puig, Kirsten flipkens, CiCi bellis, Christina McHale and Juan Martin del Potro.
NETFLIX SERIES
The first five episodes of the Netflix docuseries “Break Point” — the tennis equivalent to “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” — came right before the start of the Australian Open. This seems to have been made for casual or non-fans of tennis more than serious fans. However, it is sure to be a topic. Some players have been watching it, such as two-time major finalist Ons Jabeur, who said: “I skipped to my episode. … I hope they can show more of inside the locker rooms and what people want to see.” But not everyone is offering a review: Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is a central figure in Episode 5, said he hasn’t seen any of the show yet.
PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION
Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) was formed by Novak Djokovic The Vasek Pospisil announced its first executive committee in 2020. It includes John Isner and Hubert Hurkacz as well as six other members: Paula Badosa and Zheng Saisai, Zheng Saisai, Zheng Saisai, Zheng Saisai, Zheng Saissai, Bethanie Mattek Sands, John Isner and Bethanie Mattek Sands. The group also put forth what it called its five “guiding principles,” including taking collective action, getting players’ their fair share of the business, protecting players’ rights, protecting players from abuse, and advocating for the best structure of the sport.
COVID
The Australian Open does not expect to have any COVID-19 restrictions. This is the first time that this has happened since 2020. Players and spectators will not need to be tested for vaccines, masks, or quarantines. Arenas can be filled to capacity after there were limits — and sometimes even no fans allowed at all — in 2021 and 2022 amid the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Craig Tiley, tournament director, said that players should avoid Melbourne Park if they are diagnosed with COVID-19. However, the test will not be mandatory and no report will be required.
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