ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 4, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/D. Saville

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: How tough is it to face not only a local player that has the support of the crowd but also that came through qualifying, has momentum.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure you can say that she already played two matches, so she was in the rhythm. But on the other hand I'm feeling quite confident and I was playing a lot of points on my practice sessions as well. I didn't think that it's going to make any difference.

I just focused on my game and being on court. I wanted to implement some stuff that I practiced on here. It went out pretty well so I'm pretty happy. Was solid match, so it's a good start.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I was interested to hear your comments on the court where you said your now relationship with Tomasz, you're implementing on new tactics. How challenging is it to start a new season where you're the defending champion, you want to do well, have a Grand Slam coming up, but you have a new team, working on new things, it's still a trial? Is it hard to balance that?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, not really. I guess it depends on who you're going to work with because I think Tomasz, he's a great coach and great person. It's not that hard to actually meet each other. It's pretty fun when we are also spending time off court.

I mean, I would say the most stressful part was just making the decision. But after that, well, I just focused on actually what I can change in my game and also what I can change in my team basically.

No, I mean, it's okay. I'm pretty happy that I made this decision because I think my game can move forward right now with the new perspective that he has. Yeah, I don't think it's like stressful, but you always have to adapt to changes. That's the only thing I have to do, but it's not stressful or it's not bothering me.

Q. You mentioned the changes you're making, but you're saying they're not too disruptive, they're enhancements, you're not blowing up your game and starting again?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure he's really experienced coach. If he would, like, I don't know, do something crazy in my game, I don't think it will be smart. I really like his approach.

Before we started practicing, I talked a lot with him and asked him what is like his basic plan, his views on my game. I think he also saw, like, pretty similar things that I did when I was playing. I'm pretty confident that he's going to do a good job.

We have to build everything up. But I think it's going to be pretty easy to trust him because really he's just a good coach.

Q. Different coaches have different philosophies. Some think a player should make their best stuff better, then other ones are about making the floor higher. Where on that spectrum are you with respect to how to develop your game?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure the first thing. We're working on the good stuff and the stuff that is working. Well, I think last year I had some kind of a lack of, I don't know, confidence. I was, like, kind of checking what my place is on the tour. This year I think I'm ready for, like, making, I don't know, a move forward, to go and just have more impact on what's going on on court.

I think working on the stuff that I like to play and also what was good is going to help me to just gain more confidence and be more, you know, aggressive.

Yeah, when I was an underdog and I was building up my ranking, I was playing like that. When I reached first top 20, I was like unsure. But this year I want to go back to being aggressive and being proactive. I think it's connected, both of these things.

I'm glad that he has this kind of view.

Q. Looking ahead, facing Leylah, what do you expect from that match? How much did you follow what she was doing in New York?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I didn't follow a lot because when I was playing I was just focusing on my matches. It's enough for me to watch my matches and analyze that. I don't need too much tennis on a Grand Slam. After I wanted to rest. I watched like a little bit of final, but also not a whole match.

Well, I don't know what to tell you. For sure she's a great player and she has really loosened up on court. Even though she's pretty small, she can really have huge power. I have to be aware of that. Also she can move really fast and quick.

I don't know what my tactic is going to be right now because I have day off tomorrow. For sure it's going to be a great match and a great challenge. It's not easy to play against someone who was in final of US Open few months ago.

I'm just going to focus on the things that I worked on, on my good aspects of the game, just build up on that a little bit. I mean, it's second match of the season, so we're going to see how it's going to go also. It doesn't really matter what the result is going to be because we're going to have plenty of chances in this season.

That's the thing I'm focusing on. I think it's going to help me not to get too stress or tight because this year I want to approach the game a little bit differently and just be more free on court.

Q. What are you doing to keep your mind occupied between matches? Last year there was the model building.

IGA SWIATEK: Right now after spending four weeks in cold winter in Poland, I'm going out a lot and doing some walks. Is there this great botanic garden right next to our hotel. Don't write about that because everybody is going to go there (smiling). It's great and it's beautiful.

It's really nice to see nature in Australia because it's different than in Europe. That's my main attraction.

Q. 18 months ago 'Fernandez versus Swiatek' might not have been as big as it is now. For tennis fans it's an exciting thing because you're young, emerging stars. For you to play a match like that, do you get excited by that?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, the thing is that right now on WTA Tour we have many players that may suddenly rise up. Also we have many solid players that have been here for few years, and they're also great. If I would get excited I would be constantly excited because we constantly play big matches like that, so...

I mean, right now I'm kind of like in my calm mood. I had a lot of excitement in previous season, in Guadalajara, maybe too much excitement. Right now I'm just going to chill and see what's going to come really.