“It’s good. So don’t fear about it. There’s nothing unhealthy happening,” she mentioned.
Swiatek was a step above the competitors after Barty’s retirement, dropping simply seven matches for the remainder of the yr after leaving Melbourne 12 months in the past.
Ash Barty (third from left) and Iga Swiatek (fifth from left) at Rod Laver Enviornment on Friday.Credit score:Jason South
However she is now the hunted and world No.2 Ons Jabeur, who misplaced to Swiatek within the US Open decider, declared on Saturday that she wished to turn into the world’s top-ranked girl.
“It isn’t simply the quantity, but in addition the extent and the self-discipline round it. I wish to win extra titles and get the grand slam title, for positive,” Jabeur mentioned.
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Jabeur believes there are 5 gamers from the 128-women draw who’re able to lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in a fortnight’s time, although she didn’t nominate the primary contenders.
However gamers together with Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Belinda Bencic have been in sturdy type within the opening fortnight of the season.
Regardless of her combined begin to 2023, Swiatek believes she is properly suited to performing properly in Melbourne.
However she dropped a set towards Niemeier once they met within the fourth spherical of the US Open in September and declared her opening match “is just not going to be simple”.
“That is the primary grand slam of the season, which makes it a bit bit simpler when it comes to, like, bodily as a result of we needs to be extra contemporary,” she mentioned. “I’ve all the time felt like I’m extra prepared for these longer matches and I can actually push myself even more durable (right here).”
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