World number one spoke about the mental work.
Tennis is a mental sport. It is a discipline where the management of emotions, pressure, stress, expectations, among other aspects; they are key for the player to deploy his full potential in a game.
On the professional tour many players work with specialists in the area to strengthen their mentality and be able to succeed at the highest level. One of them is the number one in the world, Iga Swiatek, who has given an interview to the medium “Zwierciardlo” to explain how he works with expectations, with perfectionism. “I am working on my perfectionism, because working for him, under his dictates, is definitely not constructive.
I have been aware of this for some time. And I know that striving for perfection in a certain field is fine, working on what we can influence as well, but accepting mistakes must be included in all of this,” said the four-time champion of Roland Garros, who works with psychologist Daria Abramowicz.
Iga Swiatek has worked a lot
This huge demand of its own could lead the player to suffer with a negative mentality. “It’s one of the traits I work on most intensely.
I’m trying to develop more understanding and uplifting patterns. This allows me to develop and become not only a better sportsman, but also a better person, because what we are talking about applies to all areas of life”, explained Iga Swiatek, who has become one of the players with one of the strongest mentalities in the WTA tour.
“Three or four years ago they told me I was too excited, they accused me of crying during the games. Today I am a model of mental strength on the court and I am not afraid to say that this opinion is well deserved.
I know how much work it entails: my own work and that of Daria (her psychologist) did not happen overnight,” added the Pole. The 23-year-old tennis player revealed the steps to follow in this arduous mental work to express her best level in a tennis court, which has also been able to apply to her daily life.
“I first learned to recognize, name and express my emotions. Then identify the source of the tensions. At the same time, Daria and I were constantly looking for optimal tools that would allow me to reach the level of stimulation and stress that would work for me.
Because I don’t want to reduce the tension to zero. I need him on the court to reach a high level of sport,” said Iga Swiatek, who has just won in Paris and is already aiming for his first victory at Wimbledon.