Iga Swiatek confirmed that is healthy going into the Australian Open and that only tiredness was to blame for the leg discomfort that forced her to take a medical timeout against Coco Gauff.
After the American served out the ninth game of the second set to open a 6-4 5-4 lead in the United Cup final, the Pole was heard telling her team that it was “painful in my leg.”
As a result, she left the court with the physio for an off-court medical timeout.
When she returned, Swiatek failed to serve out to stay in the match as Gauff completed a two-set win.
Two days earlier in her match versus Katie Boulter, the world No. 2 also left the court to get some treatment on her leg.
Iga Swiatek© X
“Well, taping wasn’t a different leg, but nothing happened really. Like, I was just tired. You know, the volume at the beginning of the tournament especially has been pretty big, so yeah, but honestly, like, this really, it’s all good,” the 23-year-old explained following the Gauff loss.
When asked directly if only the workload was the cause of leg pain, she said: “Yeah.”
Swiatek: I played some tough girls and I’m really happy
Before losing to Gauff, the former world No. 1 clinched wins over Malene Helgo, Karolina Muchova, Boulter and Elena Rybakina.
Also, she and Hubert Hurkacz won both of their mixed doubles matches.
So heading into the Australian Open, the five-time Grand Slam champion feels she is well prepared.
“And I’m for sure happy, because, you know, I played some heavy hitters as well this week and also some girls that played tough. I was able to play against both really great tennis,” Swiatek reflected.
“For sure today I wasn’t able to give 100%. Coco also played amazing, you know, and she’s for sure improving. But overall I’m really happy with the week. I feel like things I worked on really improved.”
Tennis World USA