"I had doubts about playing" - Swiatek on playing on clay in Stuttgart

World number one Iga Swiatek admitted she had her doubts about playing on clay courts when she arrived in Stuttgart last week.

The Pole arrive in Germany having won consecutive titles in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami to cement her status as the best player in the world. Playing in her first event on clay since the 2021 French Open, she lifted her fourth consecutive title after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-2 6-2 in the final.

She said:

"Basically the last time I played on clay was a year ago, so I wasn’t sure how well I was going to transition and whether I could actually do it in two days. Before the first match I think I spent two hours on court. I always heard that this surface is tricky and it’s weird and different than any other. So that’s why I had most of my doubts, basically.

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She further said:

“I’m pretty proud of myself that during the tournament I was able to adjust and to learn, because before it wasn’t that easy. Right now I feel like during I can learn a lot so it’s just more peaceful at the beginning because I can trust my skills and my abilities a little bit more.”