Iga Swiatek insists she will experience something for the first time at the Canadian Open when she plays Clara Tauson

A powerful ball-striker, she has yet to beat Iga Swiatek in her career, despite coming close many years ago at Indian Wells.

Their only meeting this year came at Wimbledon, as Tauson was one of the seven players brushed aside during Swiatek’s unprecedented title conquest.

And yet, despite her 3-0 head-to-head record against her next opponent, Swiatek remains vigilant about the threat posed.

Iga Swiatek gives her honest opinion on Clara Tauson as a player

Speaking to the press, both after her win over Eva Lys and ahead of her match against Tauson, Swiatek seemed more than ready for the challenge her upcoming opponent will pose.

That is, despite admitting that she is expecting to enjoy a brand-new experience at the Canadian Open when facing the 22-year-old.

She told reporters: “Well, that’s going to be the first time I play a heavy hitter here. So I think I’ll need to adjust to that, but when she plays in, she plays great, you know.

“When we played, I feel like I was solid enough for her to miss a bit more, but I know that she’s this kind of player that when she feels it, you know, she’s going to play well. Obviously, it’s going to be a challenge, and she likes to also serve fast, so I’ll see.

“Also, I’ll see how much I can take from the grass court match because it’s obviously different. The last time we played on hard court, I think it was Indian Wells, it was much slower. Yeah, I’ll prepare tactically as before any other match, and that’s it.”

The last few months have been all about new experiences for the five-time Grand Slam champion though, with Swiatek shocking the tennis world when she won the Wimbledon title.

Iga Swiatek is still looking strong after her Wimbledon title

Whilst Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both opted out of Washington and now the Canadian Open, Swiatek is still going strong in North America despite having also reached the final of Wimbledon, where she won her maiden title at the All-England Club.

And, she is showing no signs of fatigue either, with the Polish tennis star having breezed through her first few rounds in Montreal.

Qualifier Guo Hanyu posed little threat, before the talented youngster Lys was brushed aside in straight sets as well.

Tauson, however, should provide the first semblance of adversity since that Wimbledon final, especially given how Swiatek clearly rates her upcoming Danish opponent.

However, given her current form, she should fear no one.

And, after winning the ultimate title on grass, there is not a surface that is safe from her relentless, bruising brand of tennis.