WTA FINALS

November 11, 2021

Iga Swiatek

Recorded Interview

M. SAKKARI/I. Swiatek

6-2, 6-4

(Transcribed from WTA recorded audio.)

Q. What are your general thoughts on the match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think I was, like, really stressed and it was hard for me to maybe understand because I was playing pretty well in my practices. When I got broken in the first set, like vibe on court totally changed. I kind of remembered how it was in Ostrava and Roland Garros when Sakkari broke me, and I had flashbacks from that matches.

I know it isn't really constructive, but I guess the stress caused that I wasn't able to come back, like, more better thoughts, to just be more focused.

Q. Did this feel different from a regular tournament or regular match?

IGA SWIATEK: It did feel different because for me. I realized it's important that I had a time to get into some tournaments. First matches were easier compared to the matches with, like, top-10 players.

Here, playing with these conditions, playing with an opponent that is playing so hard, it was kind of tricky because on practices I felt like twice more control than on matches when I was playing that hard shots.

I think that actually makes Sakkari tough opponent because she can attack as well as stay back and just wait for her moment. I think she has made huge progress in that. It's tricky for me to know when to risk or just when to hold the ball.

For sure I think if I would, I don't know, play 80% of what I played on practice, I think the match would look totally different. I don't know what the score would be or how would Maria play, but for sure I think I wouldn't make as many mistakes.

Q. What was going through your mind towards the end of the second set?

IGA SWIATEK: I was just frustrated and sad that I couldn't overcome the stress. I keep, like, forgetting that I still have time to learn how to do that because playing in the Finals for me, it feels like I know a lot about sports, which is maybe sometimes not true because still I haven't been in many situations in those moments. When I forget this is new for me, still it's okay to lose some matches because of the stress.

For me, I feel like it's a big deal and I'm feeling a little bit ashamed that my level was like that. So I was just feeling pretty sad.

Q. The round-robin format means you have to gear up to play again. Will that be difficult after this loss?

IGA SWIATEK: It's going to be just difficult to forget that match with Maria because, well, basically I played many hours here right now, and most of these hours were really positive and good because I was practicing really well.

But, I mean, matches and moments on matches are the moments that matter the most. I think this time I should actually change the attitude and just, I don't know, feel my game, have a feeling about my game that it's good because I was practicing hard and kind of not focused on that match with Maria.

Q. We don't know who you will play next, but can you give us your thoughts on potentially playing Badosa or Sabalenka.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, in playing against Badosa or Sabalenka, I know it's going to be hard because they are heavy-hitters. With those conditions, it's pretty hard to control the really flat and hard balls.

I played against Paula in Tokyo, so I already know how that is. But maybe after that match with Maria I'm going to be able to kind of just loose up a little bit and just not think that, I don't know, I should win something. Just go and, I don't know, play my best.