Swiatek starts well in Beijing and issues a challenge until the end of the season

Iga Swiatek started her journey in the WTA 1000 in Beijing on a positive note by defeating the Chinese player Gao Xinyu (6-2, 6-3) in a match that allowed her to regain sensations on a court she knows well. Without major surprises, the former world number one celebrated having had long rallies and getting back into competitive rhythm.

"It was a solid match, there were many long rallies, and I’m happy about that because I had the opportunity to find the rhythm of the court and feel the ball," Swiatek explained after the match. "It’s definitely a good start, I'm happy to be back here," she added.

The Polish player arrived in Beijing several days in advance to prepare for the tournament and acclimate to the conditions, a decision that has allowed her to better cope with the time change and concentrate exclusively on tennis. "It’s easier to focus when you’re not at home and you’re not busy; you’re just focused on playing tennis," she noted.

Obsession with being a better player

Swiatek also spoke about her goal for this final stretch of the season after a year in which she has not reached the finals of any of the four Grand Slams. Her answer was clear: "That’s the goal, to take it step by step. Honestly, it doesn’t matter what happened in the previous tournaments; we are here."

In the rankings, she still has options to qualify for the WTA Finals, although she acknowledges that the distance remains significant. "I’m going to fight for it; I’m aware, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still seems quite distant, as there are many tournaments left where many points can be earned," she emphasized.

Swiatek also highlighted the influence of her current coach, Francis Roig, with whom she has been working since April, and acknowledged that they are trying to modify some aspects of her tennis. Meanwhile, Beijing represents a new opportunity for her to end the year with better feelings. "My season hasn't been super positive, so I feel there is a lot of room for improvement. It’s always a good feeling to have something to work on."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Swiatek arranca bien en Pekín y lanza un reto hasta final de temporada