Iga Swiatek reveals she wanted to find something productive where she could waste her energy and that’s what led to her taking up tennis. Swiatek, 21, started playing tennis when she was around six or seven. 15 years later, Swiatek is ranked at No 1 and considered the best player in women’s tennis.
“I always had a lot of energy. So I needed something to kind of waste it on. But it wasn’t a waste,” Swiatek told TIME. Before tennis, Swiatek also tried swimming – but she didn’t like the sport at all. Also, Swiatek tried herself in football.
But Swiatek – who is an individualist and a perfectionist – chose tennis because that’s where she was dependent only on herself. “I’m an individualist. I want to have full control. It would be annoying for me if I didn’t,” Swiatek said.
Swiatek on how Roland Garros inspired her to become a tennis pro
In 2016, Swiatek competed in the French Open girls’ singles event. When Swiatek arrived at one of the most iconic tennis venues, that’s when she really told herself she wanted to return to Roland Garros one day as a pro.
“It’s basically the place where I chose that I want to be a tennis player. I saw all these courts and tennis superstars just passing by. It just struck me that, ‘Wow, maybe I have a chance to be there in the future and to live this life,'” Swiatek said.
Four years later, Swiatek became a Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros. In 2020, Swiatek won the French Open title to become a Grand Slam champion at the age of 19. Last year, Swiatek captured her second French Open title.
This year, there is no doubt that Swiatek will again be the top favorite to win it all at the French Open. It remains to be seen if Swiatek can defend her French Open title this year.
