It’s not in Iga Swiatek’s nature to talk a big game, preferring to let on-court accomplishments speak for themselves.
Trouble is when those achievements leave her within reach of history, there are questions she inevitably faces.
On the eve of her eighth Australian Open — the only Slam now missing from her haul — Swiatek has been keen to downplay the added expectations that first arose following her relatively unexpected Wimbledon triumph last July.
On her return to Melbourne Park, a decade on from her maiden Grand Slam title over Serena Williams, former world No.1 Angelique Kerber empathised with the emotions the Pole faced at this year’s Australian Open.
Having added a US Open title in 2016, the German again denied Williams for the Wimbledon trophy in 2018, before attention turned to her pursuit of the career Slam at Roland Garros.
“It was always a different pressure, and you have it in your mind,” Kerber said with a smile. “It’s because this is only the Slam which you need to win all the four. So, for sure it’s in your mind.
“Iga has to block it out, but she’s young, you know, [so] if it’s not happening this year, maybe next year. She still [has a] few years to go and I’m sure she will make it.”
Clay was Kerber’s worst surface, so Roland Garros was always going to be her toughest challenge of the four majors.
She never managed to complete the career Grand Slam with her best showings in Paris being quarterfinals in 2012 and 2018 from 16 appearances.
Kerber was already 30 when she won her third Slam, so Swiatek had an advantage of time on her side — she was only 24 when she steamrolled Amanda Anisimova for the trophy at the All England Club last year.
Kerber expected the world No.2’s track record of handling pressure would hold her in good stead.
Two semifinals in four years at Melbourne Park had her trending in the right direction.
“I think she’s mentally strong, so hopefully she can block it out because you have to, you cannot think every single match that, you know, this is this Slam which you need to make [to win the career] Slam,” Kerber said.
“I think she’s able to do it because she is really strong. She plays well here and she has good memories as well, so, you know, if she feels good, she is able to win it.”
“I think she’s mentally strong, so hopefully she can block [the pressure] out because you have to, you cannot think every single match that, you know, this is this Slam which you need to make [to win the career] Slam.”
Stability from having the right team in place came into sharper focus when the stakes were raised and the coach who guided Kerber to her 2018 Wimbledon title, Wim Fissette, could be pivotal to Swiatek’s cause.
Fissette came on board in October 2024 and while the results weren’t immediate, he was instrumental to the Pole’s triumph in southwest London last year.
A cool-headed and measured presence, Fissette already had the runs on the board, having also guided the likes of major champions Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Naomi Osaka.
“It’s important. It’s always important to have a good team around you, which makes you calm, which gives you the support you need and sometimes to think a little bit different because when you are in the zone, you are thinking about all this pressure,” Kerber said.
“So you need someone who knows how to deal with this, and I think Wim is a good example and a good coach for this kind of situation.”
