MELBOURNE: World number one Iga Swiatek and two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz are primed and ready to resume their quests for a maiden Australian Open title on Tuesday after taking the time to recharge their batteries during the off-season.
Swiatek, who is among the favourites for the women’s singles title, will be hoping to improve on last year’s fourth-round exit after a strong start to the season in which she won all five of her singles matches at the United Cup mixed team event.
The Pole credited her “peaceful” off-season for her impressive form, telling reporters: “I literally could just focus on practicing and resting.
“I remember last year it was all pretty hectic because I had plenty of stuff to do off court.
“I realised that sometimes I let myself not be focused 100% because I played so many matches that I said to myself, ‘Okay, I have like six weeks now of not playing matches, so I can kind of chill out’.”
