Iga Swiatek to ‘cut off everything that happened last year’, reveals doubts at assuming Ash Barty No. 1 mantle

Iga Swiatek revealed her doubts after taking the world No. 1 ranking from retired Ashleigh Barty, despite an all-conquering year in 2022.

The 21-year-old won both the French and US Open Grand Slams among her eight singles titles to firmly establish her position in top spot, but admits that being thrust into the coveted ranking was initially quite daunting.

“At first I felt like I wasn’t sure if this is kind of my place to be,” she told the media ahead of representing Poland at the mixed-teams United Cup in Brisbane.

“Ash, she seemed like a huge role model for everybody in terms of her behaviour on court but also off court so I felt like she really set the bar pretty high.

“I need to show it to people but also show it to myself that I’m in the right place.

“I’m super proud of myself,” she added. “I feel a huge satisfaction, because I have been working my whole life to get to this point. I didn’t really think it’s possible for me.

“Even right now I feel like there is a lot I can change and improve.”

“Her [2022] season is right up there with the best this century,” she said on Tennis Channel.

“Iga’s played everybody they’ve put in front of her, which is all she can do.”

However, Swiatek is remaining level-headed and stressed the importance of treating 2023 as a clean slate following her stellar achievements this year.

“I’m going to try to kind of cut off everything that happened last year and just focus on the future, because I feel like I can take a lot of experience from these tournaments last year.

“I don’t want to really hold on to that too much, because I want to go forward and kind of focus on my next goals.”

Poland begin their United Cup campaign in Brisbane on Saturday against Kazakhstan, as Swiatek prepares to face Yulia Putintseva in her opening match. She is joined in the Polish side by Daniel Michalski, Hubert Hurkacz and Magda Linette.

The competition serves as valuable preparation for the Australian Open starting on January 16, and Swiatek will be the favourite to win her fourth Grand Slam in Melbourne.

She will then look to defend a huge number of ranking points in the spring following on from her 2022 victories in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Rome.

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