Iga Swiatek admits “I still need to study” after one-sided opening win at Wimbledon

WATCH: "I got to tell you that I still need to study a little bit!" says Iga Swiatek as she name-drops Venus Williams and Billie Jean King during her R1 post-match press conference.

For the second time in her career, Iga Swiatek arrived at the All England Club after lifting the trophy at Roland Garros. The world No. 1 has yet to make it past the fourth round at Wimbledon, but she’s hoping to apply the lessons she’s learned during her long reign at the top for an even better result this time round.

The first time Swiatek charged to victory in Paris in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the clay-court major to an October time slot and resulted in Wimbledon being canceled altogether. Last year she triumphed again at Roland Garros, but at Wimbledon her 37-match winning streak came to an end as she bowed out to Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-2 in the third round.

With even more time to settle into her top dog status—Swiatek has spent 66 weeks in a row at world No. 1, and counting—and better adapted to grass-court tennis, the Pole is now setting her sights higher.

“The thing is that last year I just felt like I still have this streak going,” Swiatek told press at Wimbledon. “After Roland Garros, kind of everybody was talking about that. It was a lot on my shoulders when I got into the tournament…

“I think this year is much more comfortable for me. For sure winning a Grand Slam this year, it feels like I kind of reached my goal. I was really kind of happy and I could celebrate after. But last year, I just felt more expectations.

“I think that's the difference.”

Her experience on grass also led her to change the way she prepared for the post-clay change of surface. Last year, Swiatek and her team focused on honing her touch and her slices. “That's kind of what Agnieszka Radwanska was using a lot,” said Swiatek, who hired Radwanska’s former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski in 2021.

Now, she’s more focused on her movement. In Bad Homburg, Swiatek trained her footwork and her baseline game and felt herself improve gradually as she progressed through the tournament. “I just feel like it's easier for it to click this time because I'm not that rusty. I played some matches. I felt like I can do it. Gave me a lot of confidence.”

On Monday, Swiatek opened her 2023 Wimbledon campaign with a lopsided 6-1, 6-3 win over Zhu Lin. It was her fourth win of the grass-court season after reaching the semifinals in Bad Homburg.

While she continues to tinker with her game in search of a fifth Grand Slam title, Swiatek is taking inspiration from the legends of the sport—including five-time champion Venus Williams. The 43-year-old earned a Wimbledon singles wild card amid her comeback from injury after some vintage performances during the grass-court season.

“Honestly, looking at what's going on really now, I admire she still finds motivation to play,” Swiatek said of Venus, one of the several players who praised the American's impact on Monday. “I think it's amazing. She really must love the game, like truly.

“I just really admire that because I can't imagine how I'm going to be in, like, 10 or 15 years! But I hope I'm still going to find joy in playing and in competing.”

But Swiatek says she still has a lot to study when it comes to WTA history, after learning about Venus’ central role in Wimbledon awarding female players equal prize money. The grass-court Grand Slam finally adopted the practice in 2007 after public pressure led by players like Venus, 34 years after the US Open first rolled out pay parity.

The 21-year-old was only six when Wimbledon’s policy changed, and admits that she has often taken equal prize money for granted during her career.

“I know it wasn't [always] like that. It still isn't like that on some tournaments,” she said. “When I grew up, I respected more and more the work that all these generations before have done for us to be able to do our job and get the money we deserve..

“Right now I'm aware. But I got to tell you that I still need to study a little bit! I'm just grateful that they made this easier for us, you know, Billie Jean King, Venus as well.”

No. 1 seed Swiatek moved into the second round after her victory on Monday, and will face Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo next at Wimbledon. Venus bowed out to fellow wild card Elina Svitolina in the first round.