Iga Swiatek says the expectations she must shoulder are "crazy" as she prepares to defend her Madrid Open title.

The world number two has endured a below-par season so far, having yet to add any titles to her collection.

Swiatek's clay-court campaign began with a quarter-final exit to Jelena Ostapenko at the Stuttgart Open last week.

With the French Open just a month away – a tournament Swiatek has won four times – the Pole is grateful that many expect more from her.

"It's crazy, but people are not aware when they think about other people that we're also human," she told reporters.

"The expectations for sure are high, but they're high every year for me since 2022.

"I'm just trying to keep my job and not really focus on what people say. Honestly, they have no idea what's going on in any of our lives.

"If they think some things, they can just think, but it's not necessarily the truth. But for sure, I'm grateful that they have high hopes."

Kicking off the day in Madrid @BelindaBencic vs. Clara Tauson starts now!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/C28ZakxFHN
— wta (@WTA) April 24, 2025

Swiatek finished runner-up in Madrid in 2023 before exacting revenge on Aryna Sabalenka last year with victory in the final.

The defending champion begins her latest campaign in the Spanish capital against Alexandra Eala, who she lost to at last month's Miami Open.

"I feel like I know this place pretty well, so I'm going to use the experience," Swiatek said ahead of her opening match.

"But the experience doesn't play, so I got to approach this match as any other match. It doesn't really matter what happened in Miami."