World number one
Iga Swiatek has credited her psychologist
for making her mentally tough after recent success. The 22-year-old had a mixed
year at the highest level where she even lost her spot at the top of the WTA
Ranking after an early exit from the US Open following a defeat in the fourth
round to Latvia’s Jeļena Ostapenko with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
However, a series of impressive
performances after the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year ensured that
Swiatek finished the season as the number one-ranked player in the women’s
singles category.
The Polish star was recently quoted
in a report where she heaped praise on her psychologist, who according to her
played a big role in helping her become mentally tough.
“I remember I always didn't feel
like wasting time on the court, and when I was doing something, I always felt I
had to do it one hundred percent,” she said. “There was a time when I simply
couldn't play like that, with the same focus and intensity. It was only in 2022
when I reached such a level that everything came together and started to work.
"These are also the results of
my work with psychologist Daria Abramowicz. because when it comes to focus, I
have never been the best at this element before. And now I'm the best on the
tour and many players can learn from us. That's why I'm proud of myself and the
team.”
Swiatek ended the year on a high as
she lifted the WTA Finals event after beating the world number three America’s
Jessica Pegula in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-0.
Other than that, the
Warsaw-born also won the French Open title for the third consecutive year after
defeating Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchova in the final with a score of 6–2,
5–7, 6–4.