![]() Since the turn of the century, only three other women have gone on a comparable tear. I mean, why not? It’s like a week of tension and stress, finally letting go. I have emotional reactions, but this one was probably the most emotional after winning the title. “It’s pretty tough in these tournaments where you play day by day. The minute we finish the match before, the next one is already starting in our heads. It’s always a lot of pressure, always a lot of preparation. Even though it may seem easy, it’s never easy. “It’s not something you can get used to,” said Swiatek of her extraordinary winning sequence. ![]() □□ DEFENDS her title in Rome and extends her win streak to 28!! □ #IBI22 /vWX95IhBLE- wta May 15, 2022 With her latest assignment complete, the pressure valve was released. But this was her fifth successive title, following wins in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami and Stuttgart, and the mental and emotional demands of such a run are no less exacting than the physical ones. Few, after all, would have predicted anything other than a 28th successive match win for the defending champion. It was a surprisingly emotional reaction. This time, though, as the Polish world No 1 sunk to her knees, her head in her hands, her body heaving with each sob, it was indicative of just what it has taken for the 20-year-old to elevate herself to the position of pre-eminence first promised by that defining victory at Roland Garros 18 months ago. There were tears again on Sunday at the Foro Italico, where Swiatek swept to a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Ons Jabeur to complete the defence of her Italian Open title. ![]() ![]() Last season, when Swiatek wept uncontrollably into her towel after losing to Paula Badosa at the Olympics, it was a reminder of the unrelenting pressure the tour brings, not least for a former teenage French Open champion striving to live up to the expectations created by overnight success. Such is the assurance with which Iga Swiatek has gone about the business of winning tennis matches over the past three months, it is easy to forget how far she has come in her short career, and how quickly she has done it. ![]()
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