World No.1 Iga Swiatek remains optimistic after her unexpected third-round defeat at the hands of 19-year-old Czech player Linda Noskova in the 2024 Australian Open. Reflecting on her performance, Swiatek emphasized her healthier perspective compared to her previous loss in the Round of 16 to Elena Rybakina in 2023.

In a press conference following the match, Swiatek said, "Last year, I felt like I was off balance and the whole season seemed tough from the start. I was expecting more. This year, I chose to focus on my game rather than the results or rankings. I want to get back to work and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead this season."

Despite her early exit in Melbourne, Swiatek had a solid start to her season, boasting a 7-1 record. Following an undefeated campaign at the United Cup for Poland, she secured two more victories in Melbourne, extending her win streak to 18 matches, the second longest of her career. However, Noskova ended her impressive run with a fearless display of aggressive baseline tennis.

In recent years, Swiatek has struggled to progress beyond the Round of 16 in Melbourne, where she reached the semifinals in 2021. While the 21-year-old displayed remarkable form in Perth and Sydney at the beginning of the year, she admitted that something didn't quite click when she arrived at Melbourne Park.

"I was more stressed than usual, especially during the first two rounds," Swiatek confessed. "But even though I put in the same hard work as before, some things didn't yield the same results. I gave my all in the preseason to work on areas I wanted to improve, but when I got here, my game didn't feel natural anymore. My split step was sometimes too late, and my reaction was a bit slower."

Despite her early Australian Open exit, Swiatek's No.1 ranking remains intact. With World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka defending 2,000 points from her title last year, Swiatek will maintain the top spot into February. Her upcoming tournaments include back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Doha, where she is the two-time defending champion, and Dubai, where she reached the final last year.

Swiatek remains positive and determined, stating, "Although I lost, I have more tournaments ahead. I remember last year, I bounced back by getting back to work and focusing on the next tournaments. This year, I will do the same."

With her resilient mindset and unwavering dedication, Swiatek will undoubtedly continue to be a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2024 season.