SUMMARY
- Iga Swiatek's NBA knowledge was tested at a press conference.
- Iga Swiatek builds her own NBA All-Star NBA team.
The WTA tour is currently competing for the titles in the Middle East. The top stars in the game have been toiling hard to get a good start in the season. Iga Swiatek found success on the tour in her third event of the season. She will now be competing at the Dubai Duty-Free Championships. Swiatek was quizzed about her knowledge of basketball during a press conference in Dubai.
The world No.1 answered all the questions confidently but struggled to talk at one point. Swiatek was asked about forming an All-Stars team to play basketball. Swiatek said, “I’m European. I don’t watch NBA. Well, I would say me, Aryna, Novak, Sinner, Alcaraz, Elena and Ons. I mean, that’s the obvious answer. And Rafa, yeah.” Swiatek was honest in her admission of not following the NBA.
Swiatek was asked to build an All-Stars NBA team.
Her team: Herself, Sabalenka, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Rybakina, Jabeur and Nadal pic.twitter.com/3lum4kRf49
— Srihari 🇵🇸 (@srihariravi12) February 18, 2024
She seemed to be puzzled when asked to form a team. Swiatek answered questions with a smile and seemed to be buzzing with positive energy even though she had only rested for a few days after winning the Qatar Open. The Polish player will now be spending the week in Dubai. The 24th edition of the Dubai Duty-Free Championships started on the 18th of February, and Swiatek will play her first match on the 20th.
Iga Swiatek is hoping to continue the Middle East winning streak
Swiatek will be making her fourth appearance at the Dubai Duty-Free Championships. She made her debut at the event in 2021. The 22-year-old had lost in the fourth round in 2021 and 2022. Last season, Swiatek reached the finals while losing to Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets. She will be keen to win her second consecutive title in the Middle East this year.
The four-time grand slam champion will be entering the top ten list of highest prize money earned in WTA tour history this week. Swiatek is currently in 11th place on the list with $25,809,127 and is only $7,763 behind Svetlana Kuznetsova. She will be earning $14,800 after her first-round victory. Swiatek has received a bye in her opening match and will be facing Sloane Stephens in the third round.
🇵🇱 Iga Świątek – Sloane Stephens w drugiej rundzie WTA 1000 w Dubaju! Amerykanka pokonała Clarę Burel 6:4, 1:6, 6:2. Mecz o awans do 1/8 finału odbędzie się we wtorek.
📸 Jimmie48 Photography | WTA | #czasnatenis
🇬🇧 Iga Świątek – Sloane Stephens in the R2 of WTA 1000 in Dubai!… pic.twitter.com/5eWFa8Owyp
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) February 18, 2024
Swiatek is yet to lose a set against Stephens in their past two meetings. They will be playing against each other for the first time since 2022. The Dubai Duty-Free Championships this season will feature six of the top ten players on the WTA tour. Swiatek will hope to lift the trophy at Dubai for the first time and continue her winning streak on the tour.