Iga Swiatek Shuts Down Draw Talk, Zeros in on Day-by-Day Grind Ahead of Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia - Iga Swiatek is chasing tennis history in Melbourne, but don’t expect her to talk about it. Not yet, anyway.
The six-time Grand Slam champion enters the 2026 Australian Open with a shot at completing the Career Grand Slam - a feat only a handful of legends have achieved. But when a reporter mentioned her potential path through the draw during Media Day, including the presence of Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina in her quarter, Swiatek didn’t hide her frustration.
“I’m not looking at the draw,” she said, firmly shutting down the conversation. “So thanks for the heads-up.”
Then came the follow-up - and a sharper response.
“It’s not a joke,” she added, clearly irritated. “I’m literally not doing that.
So please don’t spoil it for me. I want to be surprised after every match.
No, because I didn’t know. That’s it.”
Swiatek’s reaction wasn’t just about a draw reveal. It was a window into how she operates - head down, tunnel vision, one match at a time.
That mindset has worked well for her so far. At just 24, she’s already won Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Melbourne is the last piece of the puzzle.
Still, she’s not letting that narrative take over her preparation.
“I think you guys are thinking more about it,” she said with a wry smile when asked about the Career Slam storyline. “Since the beginning of the year, there are many people coming to me and talking to me about it.
I’m really just focusing on, like, day-by-day work. This is how it’s always been for me.
This is how I actually was able to achieve the success that I already have - just focusing really on grinding, match by match.”
Swiatek knows the margins at the majors are razor-thin. Winning a Slam isn’t just about form - it’s about navigating seven rounds of high-pressure tennis, staying healthy, and managing the mental toll. She’s not pretending otherwise.
“Winning a Grand Slam is tough. Like, a lot of things have to come together to do that,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s a tough tournament. So I have, like, no expectations.
Obviously, it would be a dream come true. This is not, like, my clear goal that I wake up with.
I’m thinking more about how I want to play, what I want to improve, like, day by day.”
That approach has already paid dividends in 2026. Swiatek kicked off the season with a strong showing at the United Cup, helping Poland to victory. She also made headlines for her run at the One Point Slam - a lighthearted but competitive exhibition event - where she took down ATP players Frances Tiafoe and Flavio Cobolli to reach the quarterfinals.
“It was great,” Swiatek said, lighting up at the memory. “I think it was so much fun.
Honestly, like, everybody was watching. Like also off the court, everybody said they were so, like, emotional about it, you know?”
Playing against the men added a new wrinkle to her game - and she embraced it.
“It’s fun. It’s something new, refreshing.
I think this is what tennis sometimes needs, to put the events out like that,” she said. “Yeah, playing against Flavio was super fun.
Honestly, I like to play against guys. I already could do that in some mixed doubles.
Here, I felt like I need to really push him. When he would have a chance to open the court, I would be nowhere there.”
She paused, then laughed. “Half of the players I think took it seriously; half of them didn’t.
I was, like, warming up, I was ready. I really wanted to play a backhand cross-court rally with Frances, but didn’t get a chance!”
That mix of competitiveness and playfulness is part of what makes Swiatek so compelling. She’s all business when it counts, but she’s not afraid to show her personality - even in tense media moments.
And now, as the Australian Open begins, she’ll look to take that same balance onto the court. Her campaign starts Monday against Yuan Yue. And while she might not know who’s lurking in her section of the draw, she knows exactly what she’s here to do: compete, improve, and take it one match at a time.
Whether that leads to a Career Grand Slam or not, Swiatek’s focus remains unshakable. And that, perhaps more than anything, is what makes her such a force in today’s game.