Swiatek knows she's strong in the head: "I'm a model of mental toughness".
The undisputed queen of the WTA Tour, Iga Swiatek continues to grow in confidence. While her successes and immense domination earn her the highest comparisons, the world number 1 is becoming ever more assertive.
Accustomed to playing the modesty card, Swiatek admitted to feeling really strong in one area in particular: mental toughness.
Having been under the care of a psychologist for several years now, she declared: "3 or 4 years ago, people told me I was too emotional, they accused me of crying during matches. Today, I'm a model of mental toughness on the pitch, and I'm not afraid to say that this opinion is well-deserved.
I know how much work this involves: my own work and that of Daria (her psychologist) didn't happen overnight. First, I learned to recognize, name and express my emotions. Then I identified the source of the tensions.
At the same time, Daria and I were constantly on the lookout for optimal tools that would enable me to achieve the right level of stimulation and stress.
It's not that I want to reduce tension to zero. I need it on the court to reach a high sporting level. I just want to win."