Swiatek on retaining a Grand Slam title: "The moment I felt the most pressure was at Roland Garros in 2023"
During the Australian Open 2025, Aryna Sabalenka could become the first player to win the Grand Slam in Melbourne three times in a row since Martina Hingis (crowned in 1997, 1998 and 1999).
Speaking to the Australian Open website, world number 2 Iga Swiatek talked about the pressure her rival might feel, and how she'll deal with her emotions when it comes to winning the French Open three times in a row in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
"It all depends on the player. Everyone handles pressure differently. But of course it also depends on how we play on the court.
Aryna has a very good game which works very well in Australia. We gain confidence when our game is in place. It's a two-week tournament.
Even if you struggle at the start, you never know what's going to happen next. You can have a positive feeling after your first few games, or not," says Swiatek.
"For me, at Roland Garros, it's hard to explain. It's always special to play there. I'd say the moment I felt the most pressure was in 2023.
It was the first time I felt I had to defend my title, because after 2020, I honestly thought it had happened by accident.
I thought, 'Oh, nobody expects me to win the title twice in a row anyway.' But by 2023, the pressure was on.
I felt it on the court, but also off it. In 2024, when I won the title, I felt good," she concluded.
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