"I think she likes the heat. She likes the conditions there" - Alex Corretja favours Iga Swiatek in day sessions over playing at night in Australian Open

At the age of 24-years-old, Iga Swiatek is very close to completing a phenomenal career Grand Slam. The last title she needs is the Australian Open, with her chance set to come very soon. However, according to two-time Roland Garros finalist Alex Corretja, her success will depend on when she will play throughout the day.

The Australian Open is notorious with its day and night sessions, with the matches under the dark sky sometimes lasting until ridiculous hours in the morning depending on how long the matches are. This format has brought up some classics over the years, but with the detriment to some of the players.

The tournament in Melbourne is also a very challenging and gruelling one. The heat combined with the exceedingly high humidity comes at a cost to the players, with some of them finding it hard to cope in the extreme conditions.

While some players struggle in these climates, Corretja believes that Swiatek is someone who hugely benefits from these types of settings. "I think once she's going to be in Melbourne, she's going to be one of the main favourites for sure. I think she likes the heat. She likes the conditions there," Corretja told TNT Sports.

This is based on a tactical approach as well, with the Pole achieving her highest level when the sun is beaming overhead. "The only thing is, for me, it changed dramatically if you played day session or night session," the Spaniard states. "I think for Iga, it's better to play day session because her forehead bounce much higher, her serve is more effective, and her backhand can get through the court a bit more than if she plays night session. But she will need to get used to that and be ready for whatever she faces."

The huge positive for Swiatek already this year is that she has been able to claim silverware. She was a key component of the Polish team who charged to glory in the United Cup, overcoming the two prior final defeats to get the better of Switzerland in a very tense mixed doubles matchup at the end.

It is a massive boost for Swiatek heading into the Australian Open, but she does not go into it with the momentum that she would have been hoping for.

She won both her group ties against Eva Lys and Suzan Lamens, with the German pushing per perilously close, before demolishing Maya Joint in the quarter-finals. The turn in form comes in the final two singles matches. She firstly lost in straight sets to world number three Coco Gauff before she was pegged back against an inform Belinda Bencic, managing to win just three games in the final two sets after taking the lead.

These results could be slightly concerning for the Swiatek camp despite the triumph for her country, with her very likely needing to fend off the best players in the world if she has any chance to get her hands on the coveted Australian Open trophy.

She also does not have the best form in the event, to her lofty standards. She reached the semi-final in 2022 and 2025, enduring a surprise defeat to the eventual champion Madison Keys last year. aside from that she has never made it to the quarter-finals.

She will be hoping for a change of fortunes as she heads to Melbourne Park with a high expectancy to succeed. The first Grand Slam of the year will take place from January 18 - February 1.