ROLAND GARROS

June 9, 2021

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

M. SAKKARI/I. Swiatek

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you just talk through the match, how you saw it from your side.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, obviously I didn't play my best tennis. That's for sure. But Maria did a good job with playing at my forehand, which wasn't working pretty well today. It's good for her that she saw that. She picked a good tactics, for sure.

I struggled with picking the right place where to play. I couldn't play some shots that usually give me points. Yeah, my balls weren't, like, really deep and heavy. Basically that's my biggest weapon, so it was really hard to play without that.

Also, you know, I think, like, past couple weeks hit me kind of yesterday. I just didn't have good days, I couldn't do like physical recovery well because I was stressed. Days like that happen, and it's normal.

Q. Can you explain what happened with the injury timeout, what you're feeling on the leg. Does something like this make you think about reevaluating the doubles situation, that it could take away from your singles?

IGA SWIATEK: Right now I know it's nothing serious. When I was on court, I felt it totally differently. As I said, I couldn't even sleep well yesterday. I slept like few hours. I think I was feeling everything twice as much as I should. It was hard to rationally just see what's going on.

I made decision to tape it just to feel sure. Gave me, like, little bit more confidence when I was moving. Still my reaction was bad. I didn't play well, like, tactically and also technically. I was on my heels, so it's hard to make something of that kind of game.

Q. Did Maria play the way you expected her to play or there were some surprises in the match?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, I know her style of game. It didn't surprise me. It surprised me that she played so much to my forehand. But I did some mistakes at the beginning, and she just took the lesson from that. But really I was feeling so bad today that I don't think it would, like, matter (smiling).

But obviously she did a good job. All credit to her because she also made me actually feel bad. That's what players do to each other. She did that better today.

Q. Considering how hard you've been working, a little bit of fatigue, with Wimbledon coming up, how do you feel about the Olympics? Are you committed to playing? Do you have any concerns about the situation there?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't. I've never been in Asia, so this is going to be really tricky. The conditions are also different there. We're going to see how it's going to go for sure. This is my next goal because I don't know how I'm going to play on grass.

I don't know if I even remember how to play on grass, so we're going to see how that's going to go. I'm not putting, like, any expectations or any pressure on me because really I just want to learn how to play on it. Probably I'm going to say that for few more years.

But, yeah, for sure we're going to prepare more for Olympics and my next peak is probably going to be Olympics.

Q. There's going to be people who are going to wonder why is Iga downplaying her chances at Wimbledon given she's a junior Wimbledon champion. Can you talk through kind of why it is that you still at this point feel insecure on it as a surface?

IGA SWIATEK: When I was playing that year, I was so angry that I didn't win junior French Open, that I kind of took it on Wimbledon. I think physically I was better than my opponents, than any junior player there. My motivation to win any Grand Slam, my anger at French Open, it really gave me a lot.

Also the conditions were special this year because it was really hot. The ball was bouncing basically like on clay. Still in 2019 I didn't have a good run on any of the tournaments on grass. Basically that's why I just feel like I'm not consistent there. I'm not even consistent in, like, 10% really. I think it's going to do me good to not have any expectations and just play.

What can I do, right?

Q. With the amount you've played, the stress, would you reevaluate your thoughts on doubles when it comes to the majors?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, you're never going to know. I mean, I can change so many things that really it's hard to say what was the problem. I don't think it was doubles. As I said from the beginning, it actually helped me.

But, of course, I had, like, pretty intense season. I played many of the tournaments, more than in my previous seasons. Yeah, I'm happy with the results that I have, but also I'm constantly at work. For sure we're going to try to chill down, chill out a little bit, cool down, also find some perspective. Yeah, basically when I close my eyes, I only see tennis court and balls, so it's pretty tiring.

Yeah, for sure that's fresh start after grass is going to give me a lot.

Q. When you look back at Roland Garros, how would you compare and contrast last year, now this year as you came in as the defending champion hoping to win it again?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's really hard to compare it. I mean, everything is different so I kind of don't understand that question.

This year I had more pressure on me, but also I did good because I think quarterfinal is a good job. I'm showing consistency. Obviously I know I can play better than today. Everybody have seen that. I know I can play heavier balls and everything. But days like that happen. I didn't have day like that last year. Basically that's why I won.

But the most important thing right now is to take lessons of it, not let it happen next time.

Q. You've enjoyed lots of success and you have lots of fans who really enjoy watching you play. Do you feel like the same person you were before you won Roland Garros or do you feel like a different person now?

IGA SWIATEK: I feel like the same person because I am the same person. But obviously I had to mature faster and learn some new stuff. But I don't think it changes me as a person.