A new tennis season starts with the Australian swing, where top players around the world like Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and others play in the tournaments across the continent as a preparatory measure for the Australian Open. Along the way, they create several memories, and before we get underway with another year, top tennis stars revealed their favorite memory in Australia.
The WTA recently conducted an interview asking top WTA players about their top Australian swing memory.
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Naomi Osaka Likes Bike Ride And Iga Swiatek Recalled The First Time She Reached SF in Australian Open
Polish star Iga Swiatek revealed that her favorite memory was when she reached the Australian Open semifinal in 2022. That year, she made it to the last four at Melbourne Park before losing in the semifinal to Danielle Collins.
“I think reaching to my first Grand Slam Hardcourt Semi-Final,” Swiatek said. “But I have a lot, it’s an amazing place to be overall.”
Elena Rybakina said that last year, she took a selfie with a Quokka, which serves as her favorite memory. For Priscilla Hon, the Australian swing is the only place where she enjoys the support from her family right from the stands.
“My whole family comes down to watch me, they don’t travel with me much, so that’s always a really cool memory for me,” Hon said.
Camila Osorio and Susan Lamens find watching Kangaroos, the national animal of Australia, amazing.
“When I saw the kangaroos for the first time this year, that was unreal,” Osorio said.
“The kangaroos in Hobart,” Lamens said.
When it was Naomi Osaka’s turn to answer, she picked rejoicing with her staff on a bike ride near the ocean, relaxing ahead of big games in Australia.
“Doing a bike ride with my team. I don’t really know what the path is, but you go near the ocean, and then we usually end up getting like, acai bowls” Osaka said.
Meanwhile, Carolina Dolehida has a friend in Australia, where she loves to go whenever she is on this side of the world.
“Going over to my friend Storm Hunter’s house and having a barbecue,” she said.
Marta Kostyuk said she likes to visit her Ukrainian family, who migrated to Australia, whenever she comes for the Australian Swing.
“Getting to see my Ukrainian family there,” she said.
Meanwhile, Donna Vekic said that playing in the United Cup is one of her top memories.
“United Cup, it’s always fun playing the team event and playing for my country,” Vekic said.
It’s a team format tournament and the Croatian star enjoys representing her country on the international level.
