網球》無緣首座馬德里金盃 球后小史：沒 - 網球 Tennis

網球》無緣首座馬德里金盃 球后小史：沒有遺憾
2023/05/07 11:53

世界球后史薇泰克未能於馬德里公開賽奪冠，但她並不為此感到遺憾。（法新社）

〔體育中心／綜合報導〕波蘭世界球后史薇泰克（Iga Swiatek）昨日雖於馬德里公開賽
決賽敗給排行第2的莎巴蓮卡（Aryna Sabalenka），未能贏得個人在本站的首座冠軍。不
過這位當代球后賽後盛讚雙方在決賽都發揮出色，因此並不為沒能奪冠感到懊悔。

「今天我們兩個人都處於相當好的狀態，過程中我也拚盡全力。而莎巴蓮卡是本場比賽表
現更好的一方，所以我沒有太多遺憾。」史薇泰克於賽後記者會上說道。

即便昨日決賽是由莎巴蓮卡帶走勝利，但在明日更新的世界排名中，史薇泰克仍高居全球
首位。自去年澳洲名將巴蒂（Ashleigh Barty）無預警退休、史薇泰克登上球后寶座起，
這位波蘭好手已盤踞全球首席逾13個月。

對此，史薇泰克則表示，「許多人常說：『登上世界第一是件難事，但要維持在那個位置
更難。』也許我的經驗還不足以印證這句話的對錯，但對我而言，更重要的透過其他方式
激勵自己，讓自己避免過度聚焦在排名上。且不論排名如何，都應該設法提升自我，這也
是我在年初應對以球后頭銜開季的想法。」

https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4293593

'No regrets': Swiatek maintains motivation after Madrid final
Despite taking an loss on clay in the Madrid final, World No.1 Iga Swiatek rem
ains inspired as she builds on a growling rivalry with No.2 Aryna Sabalenka.

By WTA Staff

Iga Swiatek suffered a rare loss on clay when she fell to No.2 Aryna Sabalenka
in the Mutua Madrid Open final on Saturday, but the Polish player is keeping
her fortnight in perspective following the year's first WTA 1000 clay-court ev
ent.


"We just played on a good level, but [Sabalenka] was better today," Swiatek sa
id in her post-match press conference. "Maybe sometimes I could be more proact
ive, but honestly, I think we both played good. I don't have any big regrets."

Swiatek still has a stellar 27-2 win-loss record on clay since the start of 20
22, with her only other loss on that surface in that timeframe coming to Carol
ine Garcia in the 2022 Warsaw quarterfinals.

"Sometimes it's tougher, sometimes it's easier," Swiatek said. "That's why we
have variety in tennis, and that's why sometimes players are playing better on
some surfaces and some on different [surfaces]. But it doesn't really matter
because she won, and I just respect that and I don't want to take it from Aryn
a."

Despite going home without the title, Swiatek still posted her career-best res
ult in her second appearance in Madrid. She has only lost to Sabalenka and for
mer World No.1 Ashleigh Barty at the event.

"I think [the final] was really tight, and it was a matter of kind of a few ce
ntimeters, you know, and sometimes it's in, sometimes it's out," Swiatek said.
"But I did my best to keep the intensity and still keep the control here.

"Maybe next year I'm gonna know better if I can do even more or not, but for s
ure I did 100 percent of what I could, so no regrets."

No.1 Swiatek and No.2 Sabalenka contested their second straight final after Sw
iatek won their showdown in Stuttgart two weeks ago, cementing their rivalry a
s the one to watch for the remainder of the clay-court season.

Madrid featured the first WTA 1000 final between the top two players in the ra
nkings since No.1 Serena Williams beat No.2 Li Na to win the 2014 Miami Open.

This is only the third time in the past four decades in which the top-two rank
ed players have met multiple times on clay in a single season. Even more final
meetings between the two are possible, with Rome starting next week and Rolan
d Garros looming.

"Me and Aryna, I feel like we're just hard workers," Swiatek said. "I know tha
t she's super professional as well in terms of fitness and other stuff, and we
're kind of progressing no matter if we're on top or not, so I think that's wh
y we are kind of solid."

Swiatek will still maintain her position at World No.1 in Monday's updated ran
kings, although Sabalenka is narrowing the gap. Regardless, Swiatek continues
to identify accomplishments beyond the rankings to spur herself on.

"People are saying it's tough to get to the top, but staying at the top is eve
n tougher," Swiatek said. "I don't know, I haven't lived enough to know if tha
t's true or not.

"It's just a matter of not thinking about that you're gonna stay here, but it'
s more like reaching to other stuff that can motivate you and that you can do
better, no matter what position you're in.

"That was the change for me in terms of how I felt at the beginning of the sea
son with the pressure of being World No.1, and how I feel right now."

https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3324368/-no-regrets-iga-swiatek-maintains-motiv
ation-after-madrid-final

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