No pressure for fun-loving French Open champ Swiatek in Australia

MELBOURNE – Poland’s first Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek insisted Sunday her expectations were low for the Australian Open, with the teen star keen to take the pressure off and focus on having fun.

The 19-year-old ensured her place in history by winning the French Open last year, crushing defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-4, 6-1.

Back in Melbourne for the opening major of the year on February 8, she plays her first match since that breakthrough in the warm-up Gippsland Trophy this week after a fortnight of mandatory quarantine.

“Well, I’m not anxious, I’m mostly excited,” she said.

“Basically I have, like, some amount of stress, but it’s a normal amount.

“I don’t feel more pressure than before…