Iga Swiatek hasn't played since the US Open, but she doesn't feel 'rusty' coming into the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.
The Polish player will compete already in her fourth WTA Finals, and every year in the past, she was able to make progress. She was eliminated in the round-robin stage in 2021, she then reached the semi-finals in 2022, and won the event last year.
This year, however, she will enter the tournament after a long absence. Swiatek hasn't played since the US Open, where Jessica Pegula eliminated her in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
She missed the entire Asian swing, with her last withdrawal coming from the Wuhan Open. That decision came after she appointed a new coach, Wim Fissette, following her split from Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Coming to Riyadh with so little playing time in recent months and with a new coach, the first question directed at the Polish player was about how she was feeling, and she didn't have anything to complain about.
"Actually, I came pretty early. I'm happy I had time to get used to the surface. The preparation? I mean, pretty nice because the venue looks amazing. As you said, it's my fourth WTA Finals so I can kind of compare. For now, we didn't have any problems. It's all pretty smooth."
Naturally, Swiatek was also asked about her long absence. Many tennis players need to stay in the rhythm, and if they return after a long period, it might take them some time to return to their best.
Luckily for her, the WTA Finals format allows her to even lose one match and still qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament, which might come in handy. However, Swiatek said that she was feeling great and that her practices went well, too.
"I think it's not going to be a problem. I don't feel rusty. I played some points, as well, here with Aryna and Qinwen. Also, I've been practicing that way. I don't feel like I missed a lot. Honestly, it wasn't like a really long break still. Probably a bit longer than a normal pre-season."
She also explained that she spent the time away from the courts looking for a new coach but also practicing.
"I spent this time still playing tennis and for sure focusing on finding a new coach, making this transition. It's always tricky. For me it's a decision hopefully for years because I look at my career kind of long-term."
Apart from winning the tournament, one of Swiatek's objectives in Riyadh might be taking the World No. 1 spot back from Aryna Sabalenka, but even if she doesn't, it's not her main focus in Saudi Arabia.
"Obviously we're both fighting for this spot. It's been us basically kind of over the past few years. I mean, I am in the tournament. I obviously want to play my best game here and win this tournament. I'm just going to focus on my first match and do everything step by step."