World No.1 Iga Swiatek hopes her "peaceful" pre-season will pay huge dividends this summer - and the early signs are very good.
Swiatek started her United Cup campaign with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Brazil's world No.11 Beatriz Haddad Maia at Perth's RAC Arena on Saturday night.
World No.9 Hubert Hurkacz then defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-3, before the two Polish stars teamed up to beat Haddad Maia and Marcelo Melo 6-4 6-3 and wrap up a 3-0 whitewash over the Brazilians.
Swiatek, who hopes her "peaceful" pre-season will pay huge dividends this summer, dominated her singles from the outset, earning a break in the third game and another in the fifth to take the opening set in just 34 minutes.
Haddad Maia put up more of a fight early in the second set, earning break point opportunities in Swiatek's first two service games.
But the Pole held her nerve on each occasion before snaring two more breaks on the way to the easy victory in a match that lasted just 76 minutes.
The four-time grand slam winner Swiatek has never reached the final of the Australian Open, with her best result a semi-final appearance in 2022.
But after snaring the season-ending No.1 world ranking for a second straight year, Swiatek is primed for a big assault this year at Melbourne Park.
She hopes a more settled approach during the pre-season will help bring even greater success on the court.
"I would say this off-season was the most peaceful for me, because every year before I faced different challenges," Swiatek said.
"In 2020, I won my first grand slam, so it was all pretty hectic.
"I wasn't even focusing on tennis and doing the right things, so I needed to get back on the right path.
"In 2021, I changed coaches, so also a different challenge.
"Last year I felt like the whole world was watching. I feel like I already got used to this position, and I could really just focus on practising and resting
"It was really kind of peaceful for the first time."
Swiatek produced 21 winners to seven in her dominant display against Haddad Maia.
"Honestly, I just feel like I gained a lot of confidence," Swiatek said.
"I worked hard during the pre-season, so I wanted to use all this stuff that we practised.
"I felt like I could play freely without any thoughts that could mess up my game.
"I felt really confident and really focused, so I just kept going, and I'm really happy I played so well."
Hurkacz was in danger of suffering a shock loss when he lost the opening set, but he rebounded to seal victory in two hours, 21 minutes.Â
âThiago was playing some good tennis and it was difficult out here,â Hurkacz said.
âTowards the end - the second and third set - I was getting more relaxed.â
