Iga Swiatek kicked her 2026 season off with a triumph at the United Cup, representing Team Poland, and now she is ready to get her Australian Open campaign underway.
The Pole, seeded second at the first Grand Slam of the year, is making her eighth appearance Down Under.
Swiatek reached the semifinals of the Australian Open last year and was a set up against Madison Keys in the final four clash, but she conceded the lead to the eventual champion.
After winning a maiden Wimbledon championship in 2025, Swiatek is now just a Melbourne crown away from completing the Career Grand Slam, a feat just 10 women in history have managed.
However, the 24-year-old said she is not thinking about the accomplishment as she begins her run in Australia.
Iga Swiatek discusses completing the Career Grand Slam
When asked if she is thinking about the Career Grand Slam, Swiatek responded: “I think you guys are thinking more about it. I can hear that.
“No, I mean, honestly, since the beginning of the year, there are many people coming to me and talking to me about it.
Who is your dark horse for the 2026 Australian Open?
“I’m really just focusing on, like, day-by-day work. This is how it’s always been for me. This is how I actually was able to achieve the success that I already have, just focusing really on grinding, match by match.
“Winning a Grand Slam is tough. Like a lot of things have to come together to do that. Yeah, it’s a tough tournament.
“So I have, like, no expectations. Obviously it would be a dream come true. This is not, like, my clear goal that I wake up with. I’m thinking more about how I want to play, what I want to improve, like, day by day.”
Iga Swiatek said the start of her season has not been easy
Though Poland came out on top at the United Cup, Swiatek suffered two defeats at the tournament.
She lost to Coco Gauff in their tie with the US, and fell to Belinda Bencic when Poland faced Switzerland.
Speaking about her current level, Swiatek said: “Well, the Sydney matches weren’t, like, the smoothest ones.
“It wasn’t like an easy start. I think I still need to, you know, I don’t know, work on some stuff. I could play better. That’s what I want to say, I guess.
Who is your favorite player on the WTA Tour right now?
“Overall I think it’s also going to be about the mentality and if I’m going to be able to go on court and just enjoy playing and give this extra energy, kind of not something I can, like, describe, but just bring the intensity and be there every point and not really care if I’m going to make some mistakes or something will not work.
“Just go forward and try to push. So I’m working on all of this stuff. Hopefully, yeah, it’s going to be fine. But I wouldn’t say I played my best game in Sydney.”
Swiatek is bidding to claim a seventh Grand Slam title, a tally that would match the likes of Venus Williams and Justine Henin.
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