World No. 9 Iga Swiatek revealed her psychologist helped her understand why she’s such a perfectionist.
Swiatek, 20, works with a psychologist as she wanted to get a better understanding of herself and her perfectionism.
My psychologist Daria Abramowicz gave me a lot in terms of helping me understand myself more and understand why I am such a perfectionist,” Swiatek wrote in her column for the BBC.
“There are examples of that in my everyday life, too. For example, I can’t bake and I’m terrible at cooking yet I try to change every recipe so it is more healthy, with less sugar and less flour.
“I start normally, adding the ingredients, but then think there is too much sugar or too much butter. So I take it out and then it comes out terribly.
My dad doesn’t like to waste food but if I bake something like a brownie he just throws it out because it is really bad!
“That’s what a perfectionist does. Sometimes we change the things that should be much easier. Last year on the court I had a lot of ups and downs in terms of that.”
Swiatek hopes to keep her expectations level balanced
Swiatek admitted that not balancing well her expectation caused her trouble in the past.
“As soon as I was playing with low expectations and high standards I played really well. Then after a really great two weeks my expectations went up again, so it was like a circle.
“I need to keep my expectations level. This year I think it will be easier for me to do that because I understand the whole process better.
“Working with Daria has helped me a lot and I’m not the same perfectionist I was a few years ago.”
Swiatek, a former world No. 4, was drawn to meet Harriet Dart in the Australian Open first round.
