AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/D. Kasatkina

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Why don't you start us off and tell us how you felt out there and how you were able to overcome Kasatkina.

IGA SWIATEK: For sure that was really intense match. I feel like I'm playing better and better every match, so that's positive.

Yeah, I mean, tactically I did a pretty good job of not letting her use her topspin on the forehand, you know, and I'm glad that I was the first one to switch the direction maybe to the line so I could have more initiative.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You used the word "intense" about closing out the match and it did seem closer than the scoreline said. When you were serving out the match at 5-3, what was going through your head trying to do that with her feeling so close?

IGA SWIATEK: So I had this kind of vibe that it was going to be pretty hard to close in that game, but for sure I didn't want to get broken. So, yeah, this was probably, yeah, like really hard situation in my mind to overcome, but I just told myself to keep doing the same stuff that I did in previous games.

Yeah, basically I used all the stuff that we have been working on with Daria to, as I'm always saying, just focus on the technique and tactics and not think about, you know, that this match is maybe coming to end soon, because you always have to be ready for everything.

Q. It was funny to see you write on the screen that your PB, you're targeting that PB. What would it mean to you make the quarterfinals of the Australian Open when you've been so close before?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I mean, a lot, for sure being in the quarterfinal is different than, you know, losing in one of these four rounds. Second week, I mean, you can see that the players are already, I don't know, in the rhythm and you always play with probably seeded ones or the one that won that seeded.

Yeah, I mean, these matches are just on a higher level, I would say. But for sure the first ones are also hard because you have to find that rhythm.

Yeah, I mean, just being in a quarterfinal and you can always say later that, hey, quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, it sounds better (smiling).

Q. Because the women's game is so open right now, you were doing something that a lot of the other girls are not, constantly making the second week of slams. I think this is the sixth in a row for you. Are you aware of that stat? How does that make you feel when I think you might be the only one that's achieved that?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I'm aware, and that gave me a little bit of doubt before the match, and that was also another thing that I had to overcome, because I wanted to, you know, at least do the same result as I did in previous years.

But it's not a good way to focus on that. So, yeah, I mean, I'm aware of it and I am pretty proud that today I could overcome that attitude of looking to my past achievement. Because, you know, right now I'm kind of in a different tennis life because I switched my coach, I'm focusing on different stuff, and I'm trying to only look on the positives and on what's going to be forward, you know.

Yeah, I mean, that stat, I'm really proud of it right now that I achieved it, but in the morning I would say it gave me a little bit more pressure, you know.

Q. Just coming off of Matt's question, what's the secret to making second weeks at a major?

IGA SWIATEK: There is no secret. You know, I just, every match for me is really important, and I always want it to be solid. I know I have a game. I just have to, you know, keep my mind in a right path, you know.

I don't know. I just feel like I have been working so hard over my preseason, and I am playing really good. I can actually, you know, use that on matches. If there is nothing to bother me, like, I don't know, pain or injury, I feel like I can do it.

So I think it's a matter of belief and, you know, discipline.

Q. Your kind of quest to find that consistency, week in and week out consistency that you want, how much does this kind of streak at the slams and just being able to do it, how much does that inform your confidence about being able to achieve that week in, week out consistency?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's getting me a lot, but, I mean, I don't know, because it's also nice to, I don't know, make sometimes a second round and go to a final, you know, so besides that consistency, that was my goal for last year, to have consistency.

I want to have some tournaments that I'm going to really, you know, make something bigger than fourth round at. But on the other hand I don't want to focus on that, because I'm pretty good right now at just looking at another match, another step, not looking, you know, what's gonna happen if I'm gonna win two more matches.

So I'm taking everything step by step and it's been working out, so I'm going to keep doing that.