“I felt like I had a lot of baggage on my shoulders” – Iga Swiatek on feeling the pressure of being the defending champion at US Open in 2023

Iga Swiatek recently shared her thoughts on the pressure of being the defending champion at the 2023 US Open. She claimed her first New York Slam title and her third Grand Slam title overall in 2022.

In 2022, Swiatek was the top seed at Flushing Meadows and began her campaign with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the opening round. She proceeded to defeat former US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2, and Lauren Davis 6-3, 6-4 in the second and third round, respectively.The World No. 1 continued her winning streak by overcoming Jule Niemeier 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the fourth round and securing a 6-3, 7-6(4) win against eighth seed Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. She secured her place in the final by triumphing over sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the semifinals.

At the summit clash, Swiatek defeated fifth seed Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) to win the 2022 US Open title.Recently, while speaking to the press ahead of her campaign at the 2024 US Open, Swiatek acknowledged the weight of expectations she carried in 2023, where she reached the fourth round before being defeated by Jelena Ostapenko.
“Well, for sure last year I felt I had many things to defend, like World No. 1 position, all my points, and also the title itself. I felt like I have a lot of baggage on my shoulders,” Iga Swiatek said.