US OPEN

September 4, 2021

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/A. Kontaveit

6-3, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: If you could, just give us your thoughts on today's match.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, it's pretty exciting. That's my first time in a fourth round of US Open. I'm pretty proud of that. It doesn't matter what's going to be my final result, but still we did a great job. Being in fourth round of all the Grand Slams this year, it shows that really I am going the right path, you know.

The match was exciting, was kind of stressful, like really physical because we had games when we had so many ads, so long, that I could feel that I'm getting more and more tired. But I knew that I'm well-prepared. I'm pretty happy actually I could for the first time show the tennis that I was playing on practices, that I was working on.

Pressure was a little bit off. But I don't know what I'm going to do before next match, if the expectations going to come right now because I played better, but we'll see.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I think in Paris you said you were having trouble when you close your eyes at night, you just see tennis balls, you were constantly thinking about the sport. Have you been working on trying to get away from that? How have you done it?

IGA SWIATEK: I think it's easier after Olympics because I had few days off and I could actually rest for four days, not work out, not see tennis all the time. It gave me a lot because, again, I could catch a distance to all of that and just rest properly.

I was happy that I did that break even though that was the reason I wasn't, like, 100% prepared in Cincinnati. But, like, for my health and everything, I think it was okay. That helped a lot.

Also it's pretty hard not to see tennis everywhere because it's, like, 24-hour job. I think it's more important just to accept it and not to be bothered by it because it's going to be there. You have more influence on how you're going to react on that.

Right now it's easier because I also don't play doubles here, so I have day off actually. I can just, you know, hit one-hour practice and then be done. That's nice.

Q. Especially in these three-set matches, as you play, it's like you're solving problems. Is that how you're going about your matches? In rock climbing they often talk about this is a boulder problem.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, see, I am solving problems (laughter).

I'm glad that it looks like it. Well, yeah, I'm trying to solve problems. Sometimes like during a match against Fiona Ferro, when all the emotions come in, it's pretty hard to see everything clearly. I'm glad that today I was, like, in different mindset and my head was more clear because I could actually, yeah, solve problems. I think that was the reason I won that match.

I had, like, kind of -- I wasn't focused at the beginning of second set. I know against players like Anett who are playing really good, they're going to use that. She used it pretty well. I had to come back in second set, and I was always running behind, which was really hard. That's why like at the end I wasn't really, really solid.

From the third, I just started at the beginning having, as I said, my mind being clear. It helped me a lot. Yeah, today I was able to solve problems. It happens more often.

Yeah, but last two matches I was too emotional.

Q. What is your reaction to being the only player to make second week at all four majors this year?

IGA SWIATEK: I'm pretty proud of that. I was thinking about it, like, two days ago that it's the only year basically when I don't have any injury and I don't have to deal with that.

I have other problems right now, but it's easier when my body's actually listening to me. So I'm just proud of my team and I'm really grateful I'm getting all the help that I need, all the support.

I'm pretty happy that I'm consistent. But I know without them it wouldn't be like that. Yeah, shout-out to my team.

Q. At the start of the season you expressed a lot of concern about the question of consistency. How would you rate your consistency this year?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, right now it's, like, easy to answer that because all the stats and everything. How can I rate that?

Well, okay, I'm -- okay, I'm not Barty so I'm not a 100% consistent. I'm like 70% consistent.

Q. How proud are you of it? Are you not as proud of it as you thought you would be?

IGA SWIATEK: I am proud. I am proud. But like the best kind of consistency is when you can win, like, five titles a year. So right now I'm looking at the results that Ash has when it's, comparing to that, I'm not, like, 100% consistent. But I'm glad that I'm just, comparing to other players, I'm consistent.

I know we shouldn't compare. But with all the rankings and statistics, it's always comparing. I'm just pretty happy because the circumstances aren't, like, easy, yeah.

Q. Now that you are in the second week, top players will say the second week of a slam is different than the first week of a slam because the first week is about survival and the second week is now we play. Has that been your experience or is it just all one wave?

IGA SWIATEK: What does it mean, that it's easier for them?

Q. I don't know.

IGA SWIATEK: Easier in the first week?

Q. No, not necessarily. I think a lot of times there's a different type of pressure they feel in the first week because of the whole you're expected to make the second week. Once the second week starts, it's almost like the WTA Finals, here are the top players.

IGA SWIATEK: The thing is that sometimes my expectations aren't, like, realistic. Even when I did quarterfinals of Roland Garros, I wasn't happy with my performance.

Yeah, right now I'm excited. On Wimbledon I was excited, as well, because I didn't even think of being in the second week of Wimbledon. Yeah, I feel like right now I can actually enjoy it. For sure you can lose to anybody right now who's in the second week, so...

I don't care. I just want to play good tennis. I already saved my points from one year ago. I don't have to worry about that. I'll just try to enjoy it no matter what the result is going to be.

Q. How good do you know her? How well do you know her? What do you expect?

IGA SWIATEK: Tennis-wise I know her pretty well because we played in Adelaide. Also she's been on tour for many years so I can watch her and just see how she plays. I know that she's heavy hitter, she likes to take the ball early. It's hard to play against her because she doesn't let her opponents find the rhythm.

In Adelaide I had a great run. Tactically I was super prepared. It gives me a little bit of confidence. But on the other hand I know that she learned her lesson for sure. I know even in Miami she was watching my matches. For sure she's going to have some different mindset or different ideas for this match.

Yeah, I just hope I'm going to play good tennis. She just won the Olympics, so I can actually try to play without any expectations and see how it's going to go. I just hope it's going to be a nice match.