MELBOURNE: After having some time to refuel during the off-season, world number one Iga Swiatek and two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz are prepared and ready to begin their pursuit of an Australian Open championship on Tuesday.
Favorite for the women’s singles title, Swiatek will look to build on her fourth-round exit from the previous year, when she had a great start to the season and won all five of her singles matches at the United Cup mixed team event.
The Pole told reporters, “I literally could just focus on practicing and resting,” and attributed her outstanding form to her “peaceful” off-season.
“I remember last year it was all pretty hectic because I had plenty of stuff to do off court.”I came to the realization that, at times, I allowed myself to lose focus because I had been playing so many matches that I thought, “Okay, I can kind of relax now that I have like six weeks without playing matches.”
Swiatek, who reached the semifinals of the 2022 Australian Open, will play American Sofia Kenin in her opening round match. Kenin defeated Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 in the 2020 French Open final to win the first of her four Grand Slam championships.
