Article by Luminița Paul – Published Friday, January 16, 2026 9:43 p.m. / Updated Friday, January 16, 2026 9:57 p.m.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek (24) spoke ahead of the start of the year's first Grand Slam tournament about how he is managing the time zone adjustment, how he assesses his current level of play and what he expects.
With – only – two semi-finals, those of 2022 and 2025, Australian Open is the last Grand Slam tournament on world number 2 Iga Swiatek's record. Until last year, this place was occupied by Wimbledonbut recovered spectacularly, winning the title.
However, the Pole does not want to put additional pressure on her shoulders and does not think about the possibility of a career Grand Slam. He doesn't even look at the painting, he takes everything step by step and day by day.
Having already been in Antipozi for over two weeks, she was asked in the pre-tournament press conference how she is adjusting to the time zone. The reference was also to the melatonin he was taking a year and a half ago and which led to the doping case following the contamination of the pills with trimetazidine.
Iga Swiatek: “I come from a Europe that is dark, gray”
“Everything is fine about the time zone change in Australia because I come from a Europe that is dark, gray in November and December. Just waking up and seeing that it's sunny outside seems like the best medicine for adjustment“, explained Iga.
“I've always felt good in Australia, honestly. The worst is in China, but that's also because you're tired towards the end of the season. Otherwise it's OK, when we go to the States it's also easy because you wake up earlier,” he added.
“For someone like me who wakes up at 10 or 11, suddenly I'm up at 6 in the morning and I love that. When I get home it's difficult, if then I don't play in any tournaments and nobody cares. I mean, to me, yes, but not to others“, he also said on this subject.
“I'm literally not doing that.” 🙅♀️
Iga Swiatek is not looking at the draw as she looks to complete a career Slam at the 2026 Australian Open 🇦🇺#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/68cR4zInhu
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 16, 2026
The discussion also touched on the topic of the game and the changes they are trying to make since working with Wim Fissette. What is the ratio of aggressiveness to variety?
“I think I can do both. In most games, it's just the quality you bring. Sure, there are days when I feel like I can be a wall in defense and return all the balls, but sometimes I miss the easy shots. Or vice versa,” she began her assessment.
“Honestly, in tennis it's hard for me to describe what it's like in general, because sometimes it changes from day to day. You have to adapt to it and always be ready,” Swiatek believes.
I don't want it to be said that I am an offensive or defensive player. Honestly, if you want to be at the top, you have to have both – Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek: “If I had six months off, I would learn a lot”
“I think in terms of variety, I still have potential. I can use the slice more, I can go to the fillet much more. I've been doing that more, but sometimes I'm still a bit rusty or I use my patterns more instead of looking for something new,” he added.
“Wim definitely encourages me to do that. On the other hand, we don't always have time to practice these things. So I'm not so sure if I should use them in the match, because usually between tournaments you're just working on something that didn't work in your core game. In the pre-season, you have time to try new things. It's only three weeks though, at least for me,” she described the situation, transparently alluding to the busy schedule.
“It is a delicate subject. I think if I had six months off, I would learn a lot. But as I always have to prepare for a tournament, I rely on what I have and try to improve it as much as possible week by week“, concluded the six-time Grand Slam champion.
She will debut at the Australian Open against the Chinese Yue Yuan (27 years old, world number 130), coming from the qualifications.
