WTA FINALS

November 13, 2021

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/I. Swiatek

2-6, 6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Iga, can you share your thoughts on the match today.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, first of all of course I'm not happy that I lost, but I'm pretty happy that I overcome some issues that I had during the last match. For sure my performance was better, my attitude was better. I'm pretty happy that I didn't lost my focus, even though that match was pretty long.

It's pretty frustrating because I just saw the stat that I won, like, more points than Aryna. Tennis is pretty tricky. Yeah, hopefully I'm going to rest properly to just play a nice show on Monday.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Could you tell me through the two matches, which have been difficult, what is the biggest lesson for you to take away?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, that's actually a question on point. Basically I would say that -- well, it's hard to say. I worked pretty hard the past two days to understand a little bit more of, like, why I felt so bad during the match against Maria.

I don't want to make excuses or something. It's pretty hard to talk about that because I know in sports it's not that often. But like PMS really hit me that day. I'm telling this for any young girl who doesn't know what's going on. Don't worry, it's normal. Everybody has it.

Well, for sure during that match it was a little bit easier for me to get focused and to keep my mind in good mindset. Yeah, I mean, I think I played really good. But for sure I didn't have a lot of rhythm because also Aryna is that kind of player that doesn't let you get that rhythm. I hit a lot of frames, I'm aware of that.

But looking at how I felt when I came here, two days ago, also yesterday, I feel like I kind of won today, 2-1 maybe, because I won against my stress and a little bit of fear, but I lost against Aryna.

In the end I'm going to think this is a positive day, and also I can get experience from all that stuff.

Q. Even though you're eliminated for the semifinals, what are you looking for in the next match? Something that has to do with your feelings?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, like, nothing actually. I just hope we're going to play a good match. I know Paula is in a great shape. I can see by the way that she's walking around the site that she's really confident.

Her game is good. I always have known that. You can see that she has put, like, a lot of work to be better and to be a better tennis player. It pays off right now.

We are good friends. I just hope we're going to make a good show. It doesn't really matter for me if I'm going to win or lose because, as you said, I'm not going to get into semifinals.

For me, like, just finishing the season with a good performance is my goal, yeah.

Q. I can't remember the last time you played a night match on a center stadium, and also a match where the crowd was the way that it was: incredibly boisterous, almost like a Fed Cup crowd. What was it like out there? Fun, stressful? What experience do you take out of that?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure we missed that during COVID. Basically today was like really motivating. Also it was fun to hear so many voices around, so many noise. Actually it was pretty weird, but it was easier for me to just focus because I wasn't actually thinking different thoughts, I was appreciating all the noise. Yeah, if I didn't catch like the one sentence in the crowd, a guy who is telling me how to play, it was pretty okay. It helped me. So that was fun.

I know that on other matches when I feel like I'm not playing good and I feel a little bit down, it also can bring me even more down because I feel like I'm not making a good show for the fans. That may be pretty disappointing for them.

Most of times it helps me. Most of times it gives me a lot. I love playing with crowd. For sure, like, these two matches against Maria and this one show how we can use their help in a positive way or in a negative way.

Q. Because this was your first time playing Sabalenka, after she got on a roll, you were able to stay with her until the end, but what did you make of her game? What was your problem solving throughout the match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, when I solved my own problems and I realize I'm feel going on court, I started focusing on how to tactically play against her. I know that she's not like the perfect example of having the same level of game throughout the whole match, so I knew after first set that, hey, she's (indiscernible) so she's probably going to come back.

I watched the match against Paula Badosa and her second set, and I didn't know how she's going to actually react. I didn't worry about that at that time. I just played how I could.

When I saw her, like, coming back a little bit, I knew that on some point I'm letting her do that. Really after all that happened, after my first match here, I was just focusing on myself. I'm sure that in other circumstances I would be able to, like, stand a little bit more and face it and not let her come back.

But that's what basically the best, best players do, the champions do. I think I also have to learn how to do that first to really implement that in my game because I felt that couple times this season against Simona, against other players.

At least I'm aware that it's happening. Next time I'm going to have more experience and have more skills.