Iga Swiatek credited by Mats Wilander for Naomi Osaka-like honesty after Australian Open exit to Elena Rybakina
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Updated 22/01/2023 at 18:34 GMT
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has been credited by Eurosport experts Mats Wilander, Laura Robson and Tim Henman for her honesty after being beaten by Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Swiatek lost in straight sets to the Wimbledon champion on Sunday, having been favourite to win the opening Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne.
Swiatek praised by Wilander, Robson and Henman for honesty after defeat
Eurosport expert Mats Wilander has praised Iga Swiatek’s honesty following her surprise straight sets defeat to Elena Rybakina on Sunday at the Australian Open.
Swiatek lost 6-4 6-4 to the Wimbledon champion and admitted she “felt the pressure” during the match.
In 2021, Naomi Osaka opened up about mental health issues and was widely credited for it, so Wilander hopes Swiatek will also be given a positive reaction for her straightforward answers in press conferences.
“Naomi Osaka was applauded for coming out [about her struggles] and she won four majors,” Wilander said on Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage.
“She came out after the fourth Grand Slam and said she has mental health issues and that was applauded in every way. But we never really knew why, was it the pressure or [something else]?
“With Iga, in a way she had the same success at a very young age, she is talking about it openly and we have all been somewhere exactly like that.
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Highlights: Rybakina blows away world No. 1 Swiatek to reach quarter-finals
“Sometimes you play to not lose and sometimes you play to win, it is just the way it is. We have to forget about Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams. These people are superhuman.
“Iga Swiatek is not there yet, but I think she’s on the right path, it’s a healthy outlook and she’s being honest and can talk about it.”
Since Ash Barty’s retirement in March last year, Swiatek has been the player to beat on the women’s tour, with her stock rising thanks to triumphs at the French Open and US Open.
The 21-year-old said she was “trying not to lose” against Rybakina, which Laura Robson understands.
“That is such a huge thing for players to speak about,” added Robson. “They are not honest a lot of the time in press conferences, as we know.
“To have someone come out and say she was playing with this fear in her head, makes such a difference... she can work on that and hopefully we won’t see that so much in the future from her.”
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Rybakina was 'trying to attack her from first ball' after stunning Swiatek
Tim Henman added: “She travels with a psychologist and the reality is you’ve got to think about the process.
“Obviously the outcome, she wants to win big tournaments and has. But the result is the by product of playing good points and competing.
“If you can get your mind to think about her great serve and forehand and how you want to play, then you’re not going to be thinking about the outcome.
“But that’s easier said than done, and comes with experience and she still is very young so I think it’s great that she’s aware of it and she’ll put that right.”
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