Iga Swiatek declares fitness for Stuttgart Open title defense after recovering from rib injury
Poland’s Iga Swiatek has announced that she has recovered from her rib injury and is now ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title. She also admitted that she might be a bit rusty following a month-long absence from the sport.
The world number one has been preparing for the upcoming French Open title defense, which will start next month. She had to withdraw from the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers due to the injury she sustained during her run to the Indian Wells semis last month.
Iga Swiatek fit for Stuttgart Open
“I’m not injured anymore, so that’s the most important thing for me,” Swiatek told reporters on Tuesday. The 21-year-old added, “I feel like I used that time in Warsaw well to rest a little bit and to not think about tennis. I have still been working out physically a little bit and obviously coming back to practising step by step. Here I am and I think I’m ready.”
Tournament draw
Swiatek will begin her campaign at the WTA 500 clay court event against China’s Zheng Qinwen in the last 16 after receiving a bye in the first round. This is the first tournament on clay, so the three-time Grand Slam champion admits that she might be a bit rusty.
“I would love to play well, but I also know that I might be a little bit rusty because coming back from injury it’s always a little bit like that,” Swiatek added. “So I’m keeping my expectations low, but for sure I want to play the best tennis possible.”
When asked about the WTA’s decision to end its China boycott over concerns about Peng Shuai, Swiatek said, “I just trust that the WTA is making the right decision. I hope that we, as players, can be safe no matter what country we are from. It’s hard for me to say anything, but I just hope that WTA is strategically making a good choice.”
Stuttgart Open Title Defense
Swiatek is a rising star in the world of tennis and is currently the youngest player in the WTA’s top 10 rankings. She won the French Open in 2020, and since then, her career has been on a steep upward trajectory. She won the Adelaide International in February this year and has been working hard to keep up her momentum.
The Polish star’s Stuttgart Open title defense will be a great opportunity for her to prove herself once again. The clay court tournament is one of the most prestigious on the WTA tour, and the competition is expected to be intense. Swiatek has proved herself to be a formidable opponent on clay, and her fans will be eagerly awaiting her return to the court.
Swiatek has made it clear that she is fully recovered and ready to defend her Stuttgart Open title. She may be a bit rusty, but she is determined to play her best tennis possible. Her fans will be hoping for another dominant display from the world number one.
