Iga Swiatek expects an intense challenge to her place as the WTA Tour’s No 1 player in 2024 but wouldn’t single out a rival that she is most wary of given the unpredictable nature of the professional game.
Swiatek says past seasons have shown her that players can come from nowhere to challenge for Grand Slams and break into the top five.
The Pole has managed to keep the top of the rankings stable, only briefly slipping off the top after Aryna Sabalenka outdid her at the US Open and seized No 1 status for two weeks.
When asked if Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina will be her biggest rivals in 2024, Swiatek hedged her bets.
“It’s honestly too hard to predict,” Swiatek told reporters.
“Yeah, it’s impossible for me to know which. I mean, for the past years there has always been one player that was suddenly did a breakthrough and won a Grand Slam or was suddenly in top five. Obviously I think these three players that you mentioned, I feel like we are more consistent than the others.
“I hope we’re going to kind of save that consistency for next seasons, but I have no idea who is going to stand out. Ons is also a really consistent player when she’s not injured. I guess it all depends on their preparation. The season can go in different ways, as well, in terms of the injuries. Hard to predict. We’ll see.”
Swiatek will start her 2024 season by making her second appearance at the United Cup, having won three of her four singles matches at the tournament in 2023 to help guide Poland to the last four.
With Poland set to face Brazil in its opening match on Saturday, Swiatek is excited to be back at the event. She will face No.11 Beatriz Haddad Maia in her season opener, a rematch of last year’s French Open semifinal.
“It is always exciting to be part of Team Poland,” Swiatek said.
“I am happy to be playing this event a second time. Last year we had a lot of fun and this year hopefully it will be similar. This is my first time in Perth,” she added.
“It is always a challenge, especially when you play the first tournament of the year. But I am pretty excited and besides singles hopefully I play some mixed doubles as I have not played mixed for a while.”
Swiatek will play her first match of the season against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. The Brazilian will have faced Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo on Friday in her country’s first tie.