Swiatek aims for Rebound in Doha

Iga Swiatek, the reigning champion at the Qatar Open, emphasizes the importance of staying present and not dwelling on past successes or failures as she prepares to defend her title in Doha. Following her early exit from the Australian Open, Swiatek is eager to return to action and maintain her focus on the present tournament rather than past achievements.

“I always feel like the season is long and you have plenty of chances in later tournaments, so I’ll just work hard and do my best and we’ll see what’s going to come after,” Swiatek stated during a press conference.

Despite her previous triumphs at the Qatar Open, where she has won the past two editions, Swiatek remains grounded, acknowledging that each year presents new challenges and opportunities. “I learned from last year that there is no point focusing on defending anything, it’s a totally different chapter and totally different story,” she explained.

While Swiatek has experienced success after taking breaks from the Tour in the past, she remains cautious about expecting similar outcomes every time. “I had these comebacks or my level got up, but it’s not like it’s going to happen all the time,” she remarked, emphasizing the need to manage expectations and work on building confidence in her game.

With a first-round bye in Doha, Swiatek awaits her next opponent, either Sorana Cirstea or Sloane Stephens, as she embarks on her journey to defend her title at the Qatar Open.