Constructing intricate models on Lego has become an important part of preparation for French Open champion Iga Swiatek and the Pole is confident her game is shaping up for success on all kinds of surfaces.
The 19-year-old last year became the youngest woman to win the Roland Garros title since Monica Seles in 1992 and on Saturday picked up the second trophy of her career at the Adelaide International.
She breezed past second seed Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-2 in the final to claim the second title of her career.
Swiatek has often attributed her success to her sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz, who has helped Swiatek improve her mental strength and process her thoughts during intense matches.
Work on her psychology now involves building Lego models, said Swiatek, who rose to a career-best ranking of 15th on Monday.
“Daria had this idea to do some models and Legos, and I think it works perfectly for my mind because I’m this kind of person who just likes to think logically and construct,” Swiatek told reporters.
“I actually did in Melbourne like two wooden models. I travelled with them from Poland. And it’s weird because when I’m at the airport I have like two big (pieces of) luggage, my tennis bag and two models in my hands. So it’s kind of funny.”
Swiatek said she has completed about 70 per cent of the Lego blocks she had ordered before coming to Australia, where she did a 14-day quarantine before playing the year’s first Grand Slam.
“I’m pretty sad that the time is going to end soon, but it’s great, it’s really good fun, so everybody should try Lego,” she said.
Swiatek became the first woman to win at Roland Garros without dropping a set since Justine Henin in 2007 and again did not lose a set in Adelaide, where she dropped only 22 games.
She had not reached the quarter-final stage of a hard court event before the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide.
“I don’t think the surface really has a huge impact,” Swiatek told the WTA Insider podcast. “When I’m feeling good physically and mentally, I can win anywhere.”
Swiatek showed again in Adelaide why she is so highly rated now.
She did not drop a set throughout the WTA 500 tournament and lost only 22 games in all. She fired 22 winners and made only six unforced errors in the final.
“For sure, there is something that clicks,” Swiatek said of her good form during her title runs.
“Not only in my head but also tennis-wise. I feel pretty good on court. I feel sometimes I have weeks when everything clicks and that’s the effect of the work we’re doing.”
Swiatek has pulled out of the Qatar Open, which began on Monday, with the Pole saying she wanted to avoid injury.
“We decided that we’re going to withdraw from Doha because of some intense weeks here,” Swiatek said on Saturday. “I want my body to rest properly.”