Iga Swiatek has not set out to be "ruthless" at the Australian Open, but knows that is what it takes to win a grand slam title. (More Sports News)
✃Swiatek has stormed into the last four at Melbourne Park without dropping a set, while only losing 14 games across her five matches.
෴She defeated Emma Navarro 6-1 6-2 on Wednesday, teeing up a semi-final against Madison Keys.
🥀Swiatek has not conceded a single game on serve for four consecutive matches for the first time in her career, though the 23-year-old has not set out to be so cold-blooded.
🐼"On a tennis court you kind of need to be ruthless," she said. "But "ruthless" usually means something negative as well.
ꦏ"I think for me, just focusing on myself and having the same kind of attitude no matter what the score, is important.
𒀰"This is what I base my strength on and my consistency. I just continue to do the good things I do on the court.
꧅"Maybe it looks ruthless, but it's not my goal to do that. I just want to win more and more matches."
༒Swiatek has matched her best run at the Australian Open, having previously reached the semi-finals in 2022, when she lost to Danielle Collins.
🀅The Pole has won four French Open titles and collected one US Open crown, but along with Wimbledon, a trophy at Melbourne Park has so far evaded her.
🐠"I haven't been going so deep in the grand slams, except Roland Garros," she added.
🔯"For sure now, I'm happy that I'm playing my level here. Last year my journey finished in the fourth round, so for sure I feel more confident now."
🔯There was a contentious moment during the second set of Swiatek's win over Navarro, when the umpire failed to spot what appeared to be a double bounce that would have handed the American a point.
💖Navarro was unable to ask for a video replay, as the point had already been played.
🔯"I didn't stop playing. I played the next shot, so I couldn't see a replay," Navarro said.
⛎"I think it should be allowed after the point even if you play. It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back."
