World No 1 Iga Swiatek admits she is not comfortable opening up about her life away from tennis, but she has given an insight into her life away from the court in an exclusive interview
She may be the outstanding player in the women’s game, but 22-year-old Swiatek is still finding her feet at the top of the game and the tennis world gets to know more about one of the most fascinating characters in the sport.
Being the leader of the women’s game at such a young age is a challenge Swiatek has tried to embrace over the last year, but the pressure and expectations that go with her status can be tough to handle.
In part one of our chat with the four-time Grand Slam champion as she promoted the new TopSpin 2K25 video game, Swiatek gives us her views on what tennis can do to reach out to a younger audience and reveals the work she has been doing off the court to ensure she is ready for the battles she will face on it.
How important is it for tennis to reach out to a younger audience through gaming and new innovations?
It’s essential for tennis to stay relevant and draw in new interest. I really hope the return of TopSpin with TopSpin 2K25 will draw the attention of a new wave of tennis fans as well as excite existing fans and giving them a new way to enjoy and engage with the sport.”
Do you play tennis computer games yourself?
As a kid, I played a lot and I still sometimes think about those times and fun that I had which is why I am so excited for the release of TopSpin 2K25. Featuring all the Grand Slams and iconic venues, I cannot wait to get playing when I have some spare time.
How do you relax away from the tennis court?
I like listening to music, reading books, playing many different kinds of games. We play some video games too, mostly as a way to have fun while improving my cognitive performance at the same time.
Do you ever switch off mentally or is tennis always on your mind?
“Yes, I’ve been working with a psychologist for a few years now to help me with my game and my general well-being, concentration, work-life balance, so I feel like I’m in a good place now and I’m able to switch off mentally when I need it. But of course, it’s life and it’s constant work to stay on the right track and take care of yourself.”
How do we get more people talking about women’s tennis and can the media do more to promote the sport?
I think a lot of people could be more supportive and fair to athletes generally because we’re humans, like everyone, we’re not machines and sometimes I feel like expectations are crazy. Women’s sport is fascinating and we see so many inspiring stories among women. I would love to give them more recognition. It’s also definitely something that governing bodies in tennis should approach in more decisive way – to tell these stories, to engage people, show how beautiful and entertaining our sport is. I hope that with a game like TopSpin 2K25 we can promote tennis, women’s tennis as well, a bit more.
