Iga Swiatek determined to solve Madrid mystery

World number one Iga Swiatek is eager to break the hoodoo surrounding the Madrid Open this week.

Superlative Swiatek has a fantastic record on clay. The Pole has won two French Open titles and two Italian Open title, amassing an incredible 32-3 record over those two events. However, this form hasn't translated to results at the Madrid Open, a feather missing from her already colourful hat.

"Obviously I want to win every tournament that I go to, but Madrid, for sure, is still this kind of tournament that I haven't figured it out for 100 percent," said Swiatek, as per <em>wtatennis.com.</em>

"So I just want to get the experience. Winning would mean that I would play six matches, so that's a lot and I can learn a lot from that.

"But for now I'm just really focused on the first round, and I want to do it step by step. So we'll see."

Swiatek got her clay court swing off to a positive start, dropping just one set on her way to clinching her 13th career title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart last week.

"In Stuttgart, I think this is more of a tournament that is a great transition between hard court and clay because it's fast," said the 21-year-old.

"Tactically, you just have to play fast as well and move your opponent around, because it's hard to come back and recover from all this sliding.

"In Rome, it's harder to do that because everything is slower. You have to be more patient. Rallies are going to be longer. You're going to feel that you're not playing as fast as you could, but it's not true.

"Here, I can't really say a lot, because that's my second time that I'm gonna play this tournament. I don't have a lot of experience here, but the main thing I think it's having control in the altitude. That's what I'm going to focus on."

Earning a bye into the second round as the top seed, Swiatek will face Julia Grabher on Friday in Madrid.

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