Iga Swiatek has not been shy about her struggles this season.
Swiatek is experiencing her “toughest” year yet, but has still managed to claim one WTA title and remains a top 10 player. She has also just recorded a 40th win for the fifth consecutive season after beating Magdalena Frech at the Wuhan Open.
Swiatek won 6-2, 6-1 in the battle of the Poles, who met in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in China after her first round bye. The six-time Grand Slam champion has since reacted to that victory, sharing her delight at her consistency over the years amid this season’s struggles.
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Speaking to the media in Wuhan after the win, she said: “I mean every year has been so much different that there’s no like recipe or solution. I’m happy that even though every year was different and presented different challenges, I’m able to be consistent and for sure this one has been… toughest so still getting every win means a lot and you know I’ll try to have as many as possible obviously.”
And reflecting on what she has learnt from her struggles, Swiatek commented: “Probably the biggest lesson will be that nothing will come easy because you know it kind of has been pretty up in my career going like always forward a little bit. When I had some bad periods, I suddenly won something and I felt great. This year it’s been a bit tougher. I think I will learn to have more grit and to find also little successes, not only be happy with the results, but also with the process and everything.”
Swiatek is using the tournament to gain points for the WTA Finals, for which she is currently ranked outside the top eight. She will also play at the Ningbo Open later this month in a bid to reach the year-end event in Indian Wells. But even if she fails in her goals, the Pole should not be getting too down on herself given what she has already achieved in the sport.
It’s been a simply sensational career so far, and one that is very likely to include much more success in the years to come. At 25, she is already a six-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, with a huge 26 WTA titles to her name overall. The Wuhan Open represents her second event since her shock loss to Qinwen Zheng in the US Open last 16, after which she reached the China Open quarterfinals.
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