A statement triumph at the WTA Finals in Cancun to round out the season on top only builds expectations on Iga Swiatek for her Australian summer.
This time round, though, the Pole declared herself better equipped to handle the added burden.
Last January, Swiatek also arrived Down Under as the World No. 1 and carried Poland to the United Cup semi-finals before Jessica Pegula had her measure.
At Melbourne Park, a rampaging Elena Rybakina ended her campaign earlier than expected in the fourth round.
“It depends on the situation, my mood and mindset, kind of. It can really be motivating and inspiring,” Swiatek said of being World No. 1.
“There are plenty of tournaments, there were plenty of tournaments, where I really feel like I'm using that as an opportunity to have better confidence and to even have an impact on my opponents mentally a little bit.
“Also, I had some tournaments where I felt like the pressure is pretty big. So I guess as in life, there are going to be ups and downs.
“For now I'm really enjoying the fact that I actually did it last year, and I came back to be World No. 1 at the end of the season, and I'm really proud of that.”
After she relinquished the World No.1 ranking in September, the Pole eased past the incumbent, Aryna Sabalenka, and her United Cup conqueror from 2023, Pegula, back-to-back for the WTA Finals trophy in November.
In her first match back with the No. 1 ranking next to her name on Saturday, she opened her United Cup campaign with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.
She will carry the late-season burst of confidence into her next clash against Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo.
“(The 2023) season was totally different. Lots of ups and downs and some struggles that we had to deal with,” Swiatek said. “At the end of the season, that's basically the only thing I can think about right now because I remember it the best, and it was really exciting.
“I don't think it ever probably happened in the history of tennis. Playing these final matches in Cancun with such a baggage on my shoulders in terms of rankings, it gave me a lot of confidence. I learned a lot about myself. I'm going to take it in 2024.”
