QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 24, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/A. Sabalenka

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: You must be pleased with your performance. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's true. Yeah, I am pleased. This match is going to give me a lot of confidence. I'm very happy that tactically I did a great job, and, you know, my mental game was also on point. That's the most important thing for me, because from the beginning I wanted to be aggressive and to be focusing on myself and on my game.

It worked, so I'm happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. The commentators on TV called this a very intelligent performance from you in terms of how you played the game, how you played tactically. Can you talk a little bit about the tactics you brought into today's match against Aryna?

IGA SWIATEK: It's always nice to hear that. Thanks.

Yeah, I mean, I think against players like that who are really heavy hitters and who are playing really strongly, I think it's all about tactics basically and all about your mental approach.

So, you know, tactically I knew what I did wrong sometimes in Guadalajara and I knew what's the best game against her. Yeah, I just did my job like tennis-wise, but I'm really happy that I was focused from A to Z and really, you know, I was in the mode today, so I didn't want to stop that. I did everything I needed to.

So I think she also played really well, but I was really loosened up, and sometimes I could play faster than her. I think that was important, because usually she's the one that's playing faster and I wanted to make her, like, uncomfortable on court and I did it today.

Yeah, I mean, sorry, Aryna. Yeah, that was a really good day for me, you know.

Q. She was serving pretty well today. Percentage-wise she was landing a lot of first serves. Didn't double fault a ton. But you were able to break her serve seven times in the match. From you, how were you seeing that serve and how were you managing your return games to break her as often as you did?

IGA SWIATEK: I have no idea, honestly (smiling). No, I mean, I was ready for the speed, so from the beginning I knew that I have to react really fast.

On night matches, it's sometimes tricky to do that, but today was a really good day for me to do that. I was really pumped up, and I felt like my reaction is quick. That was the most important thing. And also like predicting where she's gonna serve, it's pretty tricky in tennis, because if you're going to predict and go to one side, you're not going to be able to come back to the other.

But today I had many points where I predicted it well. And also my positions of return was convenient.

Yeah, I didn't want to like just block the ball. I wanted to play like full speed. Yeah, I mean, I just had really good touch today (smiling).

Q. One of those days for you?

IGA SWIATEK: Yes, that's true. You know, it's good to have these days, but also, you have to remember that not every day is going to be like that. Of course I'm going to do everything to play well, but I want to keep my expectations low still.

Q. February is not over yet, but you have already made as many semifinals as you have made in a full season prior to this year. So you made three last year; you have already got three here.

IGA SWIATEK: Hopefully I'm going to make more finals.

Q. There you go. But just talk a little bit about how pleased you must be with the start of your season to make three semifinals all on hard courts at big tournaments. What has been the key for you to get this great of a start right out of the gate on the hard courts?

IGA SWIATEK: I think the key is, you know, I knew that I'm developing step by step over the past few years my game on hard court. But these past months, when I changed coaches and when I changed my approach towards my tennis, were really helpful, because right now I'm beginning my matches with more confident approach and just, you know, looking forward, not being sometimes scared.

I'm just, you know, really -- I want to attack, and I want to be aggressive. So I'm really happy that Tomasz, he's been getting me that way, and he's been putting a lot of confidence in that.

You know, after a few tries, I also started to put the confidence in that, so right now I can see the results. Yeah, and I feel like I have more variety right now. It's always good to have that, because earlier when I played with experienced players, I always could feel that they have, you know, something, they have like an ace, you know, that they can put on the table.

And here, from the beginning of the season, I feel like I have some of these aces, as well. Yeah, I can just choose the proper one for the right match, you know.

I mean the ace like the card. I don't know if...

Q. Yeah, you have an ace up your sleeve is how we say it in English. No worries. I gotcha. You have Sakkari next. You have played her a bunch of times, practiced with her, as well. What is the biggest thing that you think you have learned from the three matches and the practice sessions you have had with her that you will try, that you take into this next match?

IGA SWIATEK: The thing is that it's hard to answer that, because every match was different and every match I had some, you know, stuff in the back of my mind that were kind of, you know, bothering me. And all the time, you know, on every match it was some different stuff. So it was pretty hard to work on that.

I think our matches are always really physical and I'm okay with that, because I'm really well prepared. But I think the attitude I was talking about, answering previous question, is going to help me this time. I'm more focusing on myself than on what happened before or how I played before, you know, because right now I feel like I have more options.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit of the story with the Olympian that was in your box today? And also somewhat related to that, the Ken Follett tweet, which you seemed pretty excited about. That's kind of cool to get that recognition.

IGA SWIATEK: You know, inviting Anna (phonetic) to my match, I knew that it's gonna happen at some point of the tournament, but I'm pretty glad that I didn't know that before the match that she's gonna come, because that would get me really stressed.

She's like a role model for all the athletes in Poland. She is three-time gold medallist, but she has so many medals that I'm not sure that's the appropriate number, actually. She's like the most consistent athlete we have in our country, and I think meeting her is going to inspire me.

But also, it was so cool to see that she's actually having fun, because you don't get that much interactions between other sports, because we usually don't have time to meet, you know, other athletes. But yeah, I mean, that's really amazing that it's going to stay with me forever. Yeah.

And about Ken Follett, what can I say? He's just crazy, you know. When I started reading him, reading his books, I wouldn't even think of, I don't know, being on his Twitter.

Yeah, I mean, I hope next book is going to be nice because I'm reading them basically right after they come out and I'm looking forward for the next one. I've got to tweet about that so he can have more pressure on him (smiling).