ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 7, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/V. Azarenka

6-3, 2-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Talk us through your thoughts on coming through that be and how you're feeling generally.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm feeling pretty confident. Winning against such an experienced player is still, like, pretty new for me. Also I've been doing everything I needed to do, so I'm proud of myself and I can enjoy the moment right now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What were you trying to do out there when you stepped out on the court, and then what adjustments did you find yourself making that made a difference in the end?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, basically my main tactic was the same as in previous match: I want to be the first one to attack and to play that faster ball that's going to give me opportunity to go forward. Basically I did that pretty well.

But I felt like in the second set I backed out a little bit, so that was my mistake. She used that. I knew she's going to do that. Basically I felt the same way when I was playing Simona last year Australian Open. She just used every opportunity to come back to the match.

Yeah, I knew in third set I need to start the same way the first set. Yeah, I think it was pretty easy, just a matter of who is going to attack first and who is going to have more time to go forward.

Q. What's the most satisfying thing about tonight's win?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure I didn't do the same mistakes as on US Open. That's positive. Also, again, that was my third match where I actually could show what I practiced during pre-season. That's really satisfying because I had this problem last year where I was practicing really great and I felt like I could do more on matches. This time it's different. It's actually going my way, so I'm pretty happy about that.

Q. Facing Ash, second time you will have played. What are you looking forward to most about this match?

IGA SWIATEK: I would say the atmosphere because I know it's going to be great. Also playing against No. 1, I already did that because I played against Naomi and against Ash. Basically these are these kind of matches where you have nothing to lose. You can just play your game and be and underdog no matter if, I don't know, you won a Grand Slam or something. It's always a little bit more pressure on her. Hopefully I'm going to be able to use that.

Yeah, I'm the most excited about the atmosphere. Also she's a great player. I have respect for her. I know it's going to be a good match if we're going to both keep playing the same way.

Yeah, I mean, I'm just going to focus on myself again. I'm going to try to find the same rhythm as I did on these two matches.

Q. Do you gain more experience or confidence going into tomorrow's match from having played her in Madrid or all the practices since then, being familiar with her?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure in Madrid I had more question marks. So as you said, these practices, our match in Madrid, it's going to give me a lot of information.

Yeah, I feel more confident just because I feel like I'm more settled on tour and I can actually compete on highest level against those players. In Madrid for sure I was pretty nervous and not confident because of the altitude. Here I don't have that factor. I know I can play really good on these courts.

Also the weather conditions, I love them. Basically I don't have any, like, outside factors that are kind of in the back of my head, so I can really play free. That's the best thing.