Martina Navratilova thinks that Iga Swiatek is relieved not to be world number one on the WTA Tour anymore, and there might be some truth to it.
If anybody knows anything about what it's like to be world number one, it's Martina Navratilova. She had an amazing career, spending 332 weeks as world number one, and she knows what kind of pressure comes with it.
Iga Swiatek spent over a year as world number one, but she didn't always look too comfortable with it. For the most part, the Pole was happy to be world number one, but she lost it this year after the US Open.
The attention kind of went away from her for a while, and she just kept doing what she liked most - working on her tennis. It resulted in her winning the China Open, reminding everybody that she's still great.
The WTA Finals give her a chance to return to world number one, and while she expressed a desire to do that, Navratilova thinks she's more comfortable being number two.
Talking in Beijing, Iga almost seemed relieved to not be No.1. The No.2 ranking is a smaller crown to bear. I get that, but I still would rather be No.1 than No.2. That said, the pressure is just a little bit smaller and maybe that makes it easier for her.
I’m sure she’ll be trying her best to get back to the No.1 again. If it stays that way, it will be Sabalenka No.1 and Swiatek No.2 when the Australian Open rolls around. It’s so close now, we have a great rivalry, and I’m excited about that.
Swiatek mainly was annoyed by the constant questioning on the ranking, much like she was annoyed at people asking about her winning streak last year. Now, she enters the 2023 WTA Finals with no expectations as world no. 2.
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