Swiatek's father doesn't believe daughter enters as favourite for Australian Open: "I would rather say that she enters the tournament as the number 1 tennis player"

The father of Iga Swiatek doesn't think his daugther is the favourite for the Australian Open but rather the top-ranked WTA player at the event.

Swiatek will enter the Australian Open as the number one player in the world and many, correctly assume, that she's got a pretty good chance to win the event. She's been very tough to beat in the past couple of months but slightly easier than at the start of the year. She was already beaten by Pegula, whom many consider a dark horse candidate at the Australian Open.

In an interview, her father said:

"I would rather say that she enters the tournament as the number 1 tennis player. And that does not immediately mean that she is the favorite."

He added:

"She is a bit exaggerated in this role and the media does it. I understand why, but I wouldn't be so categorical. To win a grand slam, it's not enough to be the best in the world, there are many factors and details that you can't influence."

He thinks there are many great players that are capable of winning the event:

"There are some very difficult and ambitious opponents: Pegula, Caroline Garcia. Maria Sakkari will have something to say, Aryna Sabalenka threatened after the Masters. Every girl starting to compete with Iga will want to beat number 1. Such a match will be one of the most important for them at this tournament. This is the specificity of the situation when she plays with number 1. Everyone wants to beat the number one."