MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 25, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/V. Golubic

6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the news that as of Monday, April 4, you will the WTA World No. 1. Talk us through your thoughts on the match. Was the ranking playing on your mind tonight?

IGA SWIATEK: I wouldn't say it was tonight. My main goal was just to be focused on the performance and on tennis and actual things that are going to help me to win.

But for sure, for last couple of days, I felt a little bit more pressure. Yeah, this has been more stressful than usual, but I'm pretty happy that I handled it really well and I could show my best tennis today.

It's again really proof for myself that I can handle that. I'm really happy about that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. That said, when James Blake comes out with flowers, and Lindsay Davenport, and they announce to the crowd what they didn't know, that you were going to be No. 1, what did that feel like?

IGA SWIATEK: Pretty surreal. Yeah, I mean, on one hand, these are the most special moments that you're going to remember for the rest of your life, but on the other hand, that match was just another match. Before that match, I wanted to remember that the court is the same, you know, the opponents are the same because we are in the same tour.

Yeah, for sure, like it hit me after the match, because I was so focused on the performance that I didn't, you know, think about that during. But Lindsay Davenport, she's such a great player, it's a real honor to get not the trophy but the flowers from her.

I'm pretty happy. It was really nice meeting her actually, because we didn't have chance to meet each other.

Q. You will be the 28th No. 1 ranked player in the WTA. That's a very small club. How do you process that?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I didn't know about that. So thanks.

Well, I don't know. Truth be told, I didn't work much -- I didn't analyze my situation that much yet, because still I wanted to be focused on winning against Viktorija today. Well, it's something I'm really proud of, and, you know, it's a dream come true, for sure. It's that kind of thing that I wanted to happen someday, but I didn't really know that it's going to be possible for me.

I mean, I always believed in myself, but probably that I'm going to be, you know, No. 1, it was crazy for me before. Honestly, I just realized after Indian Wells that it may be possible.

So I didn't really have time to digest even being second. Right now being first, I think I'm going to need some time to reflect on that.

Q. You said after Indian Wells like two days it occurred to you that you could be No. 1. It happens within a week.

IGA SWIATEK: I know. That's why I feel like my life is really crazy right now.

So, yeah, winning Indian Wells and being second, it was already a lot to, you know, to handle. Right now being first, I mean, it just shows how sport is going faster and faster right now.

So we have to keep up, for sure. We have to do the work right now to be able to, for me to stay in that position and play the same tennis I was playing few months ago, I mean, for a few months. I think it's possible for us, because, yeah, we have been working hard for that.

Q. What was the work you put in, I guess, maybe since Ash's announcement to prepare for the moment of being out there, having to just only one match away, what was that sort of preparation you did mentally for this occasion?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, first of all, I needed to accept that thoughts are going to come in and it's going to be pretty impossible to cut them off.

You know, I don't know, that was like the first time people got so excited, and it was right before the tournament, which usually happens after, you know, when you win. So that was the first time I needed to act really quickly and really cut some, I don't know, social media out and just stay focused on the job for sure.

You know, talking to Daria helped a lot, because I feel I don't have to keep all these emotions inside. I can also use my coach's experience and Daria's experience to stay focused on the job.

Yeah, I did that. So, you know, I always try to remember in moments like that that it's not a coincidence and I worked hard and I have, you know, skills and abilities to be in that place. You just have to use them properly on the next match. So, yeah.

Q. Ash had some very nice things to say about the possibility of you becoming No. 1. Did you see that? What did that mean to you to sort of have that unique handoff moment?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's amazing. She's such a great athlete. Hearing these kind of words from her, it's -- I mean, I'm pretty grateful. Well, for sure, even when I was playing practices against her, I felt like I'm, you know, not in that place still to like really compete against her.

After Indian Wells, in my mind, it pretty, like, changed a lot, because I thought that maybe right now I can actually -- you know, I developed my game a lot and I can actually fight for being first.

So I always respect Ashleigh, and she gave me huge motivation to work on my tennis. And hear the words from her, it means a lot. I don't know how to even describe it. I'm just thankful, you know.

Q. How are your feelings compared to becoming No. 1 compared to win a title like you did in Roland Garros or Indian Wells?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's for sure different, because right now I'm in the middle of the tournament. It's pretty weird winning first round and have that kind of feeling that you have achieved something big. Because in tennis you still have a few matches to play, and you're only going to feel satisfied if you actually win a tournament.

Right now it was for sure different. On one hand, I want to enjoy this moment, but on the other hand, I need to be focused on my next match, so I have to kind of balance that. For sure, today is the evening for celebration, but tomorrow, we're going to go back to work.

Q. You could win the Sunshine Double. You could win Indian Wells and Miami. Only four women have ever done that. What do you think makes that so hard?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think adjusting to new conditions. There is a huge difference between Indian Wells and here, for sure staying consistent and having such a streak.

But honestly, I feel like for me it's still a long way to go, so I'm not even thinking about that. As I said, I have many things to digest right now and to actually work through. I'm going to be focusing on that. If I'm going to do a good job, the result is going to come as an effect of that. Yeah.

Q. Have you been having different conversations with family or friends back home or anything more sort of in this moment? I don't know if people are still awake in Poland right now. What's the sort of reaction been like before this occasion, maybe in this first hour-plus afterwards?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, like from what is going on in like media or -- I don't know what my fans are saying. I don't really know.

Q. I mean, more personally for your contacts.

IGA SWIATEK: Basically I know that my sister have been crying happy tears more than usual, but I want her to be focused on her studying.

Yeah, she's got to rest, but she's watching my matches in the middle of the night. So it's tricky for her. Yeah, they are pretty proud of me. That's really great.

Yeah, I mean, it's always not the same kind of experience when they are like so far away, but I know that they just care a lot. I can feel that even when they're like texting me on Messenger. Yeah, it's great. I'm pretty happy that they are proud of myself and they are really supportive, yeah.

Q. You must have been dreaming at some point of being No. 1. There wasn't dramatic music or fireworks going off or you're holding up a trophy, any of the things you might think might go with it. It was a very calm moment. What do you think you will remember from this night when you're done or telling your kids about it or whatever it is?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, the thing is I never really imagined that moment, because truth to be told, I was working day by day, and I was playing tennis well, but I never really -- I never had that like that strong belief that it can actually happen. So it's even more surreal for me.

But the thing is that I'm just soaking everything in because of that, because I didn't have any expectations, you know, and for sure having that trophy, I mean, the flowers, handed from Lindsay Davenport, it's an amazing feeling.

I mean, I loved every moment of it. It doesn't really matter for me if there are fireworks. The crowd was really supportive, and they were really excited. So for sure that was really great.

Q. Do you think people will treat you differently? Do you think you should or will act differently somehow, being at the top of the pyramid?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't know about people's reaction. I guess I'm gonna see because it's hard to expect anything. I have never been in such a place.

I think it's going to be a bit different and maybe the hype is going to be a bit bigger, but I'm ready for that. Honestly, it's like part of the job, so I always knew if I'm gonna succeed, it's going to be there. I really appreciate people being really enthusiastic and really pumped up, because I think, you know, sometimes I'm even playing for them.

But for my perspective, I don't think anything will change. Maybe I got to watch if I'm wearing clean clothes and really if I'm representing tennis well (smiling).

Q. Your hair is looking good, all of that?

IGA SWIATEK: So I'm going to be careful with that. But honestly, I'm still the same person, and I want to stay the same. So, yeah.

Q. The trophy...

IGA SWIATEK: But I'm waiting for it, that's great, because last year I had a photo shoot here with like the Newcomer of the Year, so this year it's going to be like pretty good transition.

Q. Once it's official anyway. But wondering, when you think of the WTA No. 1, you're No. 28, so 27 women before you, is there any one or two of them you most associate with when you think of No. 1 when you think of that spot?

IGA SWIATEK: Who I associate with?

Q. Yeah, for whatever reason people you associate with growing up...

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I never associated with these kind of players, because as I said, it was always pretty surreal for me, and I really never thought this was possible, so...

So I mean, these were always that kind of players who were there who I always thought, wow, this is such a high level, I don't know if I'm going to actually be able to be there. So I don't have any player like that. But for sure, I mean, I respect like all of them.

It's a huge thing for World No. 1. For sure I want to stay for a longer time in that place, and that's going to be my next goal, you know.

Q. Another match coming up against Madison Brengle. What are your thoughts on that? How do you reset after this big moment?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm going to do the same stuff I have been doing the whole season, you know. I have been pretty good at resetting.

Right now I want to -- I'm going to let myself think about that and all the achievements. But tomorrow is going to be a work day, so playing against Madison is always tricky because she plays in such a different rhythm than most of the players. I will have to be careful, you know, but on the other hand, I still want to be focused on my tennis that I'm able to show and being aggressive and being proactive.

Yeah, I'm going to do the same stuff I have been doing for such a long time. It doesn't really matter what ranking I have.