Iga Swiatek has dispelled fears she may not be fit for the Australian Open, with the world number two declaring herself on track for the season-opening grand slam in Melbourne.

Swiatek appeared to be in tears when she left the court after Sunday night’s United Cup final loss to Coco Gauff, having needed a medical time-out late in the 6-4, 6-4 defeat.

The five-time grand slam champion said she’d needed treatment for a different issue to the left thigh problem that required taping in Poland’s semifinal win over Kazakhstan.

Swiatek, though, insisted she had merely been suffering from wear and tear after a gruelling workload of five singles matches and two mixed doubles in the space of seven days.

“For sure, I wasn’t fresh today, but I’ll be good,” she said.

“Nothing happened really, like I was just tired.”

Swiatek hadn’t played an official match in seven weeks since serving a one-month doping ban after the WTA Finals in early November.

“At the beginning of the tournament especially has been pretty big but, honestly, it’s all good,” she said.

“I’m for sure happy because I played some heavy hitters as well this week, and also some girls that played topspin, and I was able to against both [styles] really great tennis.

“Today I wasn’t able to give 100 per cent. Coco also played amazing and she’s, for sure, improving.

“But I’m really happy with the week and I feel like the things I worked on really improved.

“But, on the other hand, this week before the Australian Open is a different story so I’m going to do everything step by step and continue the work that I’ve been doing.”

Krejcikova out, Osaka in doubt

Swiatek’s largely clean bill of health will be welcome news for Open officials after Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova withdrew on Sunday with a back injury.

Two-time Open champion Naomi Osaka is also in doubt after pulling out of Sunday’s Auckland Classic final with an abdominal strain.

Osaka had just won the first set against Clara Tauson before quitting in obvious distress.

Open qualifying starts at Melbourne Park on Monday, with the draw to take place on Thursday night.

World number one and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka underlined her title favouritism by taking out the Brisbane International on Sunday night.

Swiatek will be the women’s second seed ahead of Gauff, despite Gauff leading Team USA to United Cup glory with an undefeated campaign in Perth and Sydney.

Defending champ Jannik Sinner will top the men’s draw, with Australia’s great hope Alex de Minaur climbing one spot in the rankings to number eight after winning both his United Cup matches to nab an all-important top-eight seeding.

De Minaur is guaranteed not to run into a higher-ranked rival like Sinner, third seed Carlos Alcaraz or 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic until at least the quarterfinals.

AAP