"It's not like I come to play and everything is suddenly perfect": Iga Swiatek ready to reset as Stuttgart opener

Iga Swiatek spoke about the high expectations she constantly faces as she prepares for her debut at the Stuttgart Open. The World No. 2 has been the undisputed queen of clay courts in recent years, with four titles at Roland Garros and four more on the surface overall.

When considering the key tournaments of this time of year—the two WTA 1000 events on clay and the French Open—Swiatek holds an impressive 68–6 record (92%). In fact, she is defending all three titles this year and a 21–1 record from the 2024 clay swing.

However, her recent form hasn’t been at its best. One of the most dominant players in recent years, she surely isn’t satisfied with having not reached a final yet this season, and she has lost some prominence, currently sitting at No. 4 in the Race. If Swiatek fails to replicate her results from last year and defend her titles, she may fall out of the top 2 for the first time in over three years.

"It remains a challenge because it's not like I come to play and everything is suddenly perfect. We play on hard courts most of the year, so I need time to adapt to clay, but I am confident that I am in the right place,” she commented during her Stuttgart Open Media Day. “Each year is different because most years I didn't have much time to make the transition. This year I was able to do it with a bit more calm,” she added.

Recently, Swiatek also addressed the harassment she experienced from a fan during a practice session at the Miami Open, where the man shouted personal insults about her family. He had reportedly sent her abusive messages on social media beforehand, leading the WTA to implement additional security measures for the 5-time Grand Slam champion.

“I wouldn't call it a threat because it wasn't so harsh. There was a fan who wanted to disrupt my rhythm,” she stated. “I try to focus on the fans who support me, but obviously when you hear something like that, you want to react. I think the WTA helped us, helped me, to feel protected.”

“What I heard wasn't a threat, but I think there were some threats on the internet,” Swiatek added. “So, yes, the WTA helped me react quickly and made me feel safe. I'm glad there is someone watching over us and helping us react in these kinds of situations. That's what happened. I'm glad to have my team close by that helps me with these things.”

Swiatek is scheduled to make her Stuttgart Open debut this Wednesday against the winner of the all-Croatian clash between qualifier Jana Fett and Donna Vekic. This is the only week in the next two months where she can actually earn ranking points, considering that even if she repeats her stunning 2024 results, she’ll only be defending points in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros. A year ago, she reached the semifinals in Stuttgart but lost to Elena Rybakina—her only clay-court loss during that stretch.