Iga Swiatek has not been at her best this summer, but remains one of the players to beat at the US Open.
Swiatek is the number one seed at the US Open, with the world number one already boasting five titles this year.
The Pole won the French Open and clinched an Olympic bronze medal, while Swiatek fell at the semi-final stage of the recent Cincinnati Open.
Swiatek should be worried ahead of the US Open, with the 2022 champion losing in the third rounds of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
She isn’t at the top of her game at this moment in time, but the five-time Grand Slam champion will still be confident of a lengthy run.
Iga Swiatek issues New York verdict ahead of the US Open
The majority of her success has come on clay, with Swiatek winning four of her five major titles at the French Open.
But the other arrived against Ons Jabeur at Flushing Meadows, with the Pole beating the Tunisian 6-2, 7-6(7-5).
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She has now been looking back on her journey at the event over the years, having been asked in her press conference how her view of the US Open and New York has evolved.
“Oh my God, from the first time?” Swiatek responded. “When I was a junior, I didn’t see anything. Yeah, it was just being here was so crazy.
“Since then I actually got to know New York a little bit better. I saw why people love it, and I went to Broadway, do some other different things, and I really enjoyed it.
“It got for sure more fun, but obviously when I’m playing the tournament, I need to focus on myself. So we kind of worked on getting our routines, and our accommodation maybe more comfortable.
“So this year, for example, I’m staying close to Central Park. I’m going to use that for sure and try to relax and have more nature because that’s basically the only place in New York you can get some nature. I think we’re working on that a little bit.”
Does Iga Swiatek have what it takes to win another US Open?
Swiatek will need all of the relaxation she can get ahead of the US Open, where she will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
Questions have been asked of her hard-court form, but her Grand Slam success speaks for itself, with the Pole winning all five of her finals so far.
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The world number one takes on world number 104 Kamilla Rakhimova first up, with the Russian having battled through qualifying to make the main draw.
A fourth round exit was suffered by Swiatek at the 2023 US Open, with a much better run on the agenda this time around.
But the top seed must take the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year one round at a time if she is to win a sixth major title at the age of just 23.
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