The journey to the top is no mean feat in the sporting world. It is a mixed package of thrills and emotions and only a few can get there, who manage this well. Former World Number 1, Iga Swiatek, is among the players who have experienced a wide range of emotions on the court. Take this year as an example. While she continued winning the French Open title, Swiatek suffered a steep downfall during which she had to surrender her World Number 1 rank to Aryna Sabalenka. It was a tough phase for the Pole and she even suffered emotionally. As the dawn sets on the 2024 season, Swiatek’s fans are set to get a glimpse of her emotional journey this year.

Earlier today, renowned journalist, Żelisław Żyżyński, hinted that a new series on Swiatek is in the making which highlights the Pole’s ups and downs this year. Giving an insight on what the fans can expect from the series, he said, “About the whole season, but not only about what happened on the court, but also a lot about what happened off the court. A lot of background appears, many events that no one knew about. It will be very interesting, there are even tears. There was a lot about emotions that also resonated strongly in Poland.”

The series named ‘Four Seasons of Igi’ will be produced by Canal + Sport and will be released in December. It will feature not only Swiatek but also her rivals as it highlights the grueling and hectic season of tennis. Moreover, Swiatek has been affected by the off-court controversies as well along with her inconsistent performances on the court.

Earlier this season, she split with her coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, and replaced him with Wim Fissette. The move was widely questioned as she abruptly ended her long-time successful bond with her compatriot. Nonetheless, Swiatek has learned to deal with pressure and criticism.

Iga Swiatek on handling pressure: ‘I feel more mature’

With rising expectations comes the added pressure of performing well match after match. While Swiatek has come out on top on most occasions, a recent dip in form has increased the pressure on her. Despite the dip in form though, Swiatek highlighted the positives that she would look to draw from the season.

Swiatek said, “Last year I felt like a lot of, I don’t know, anxiety and pressure with being world No 1 … I don’t know, feeling that I might lose it, you know? And this year I didn’t feel it that much. I feel more mature in terms of not really thinking about the rankings and the points. So I think on this tournament, yeah, it’s hard for me to compare because there are so many other factors except the Olympics that come in that it’s hard to judge. But for sure, one less tournament on hard court, a little bit less time to play on hard court. Maybe that matters, but honestly, I’m not that experienced to know.”

Following a disappointing campaign in Riyadh, Swiatek would look to make amends at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals. She will join the Polish team and lead her country’s charge at the tournament starting next week.