MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

April 1, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Mixed Zone Interview

I. SWIATEK/J. Pegula

6-2, 7-5

Q. How are you feeling?

IGA SWIATEK: Good. You know, still adrenaline is up. Even though it's like middle of the night, I feel like I'm going to get some time to chill out today, because it was really intense match and I have to give everything, you know.

Q. How tough she is? What makes her tough to play against?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure she's playing really low balls. Yeah, I mean, that's her style, so as soon as you get used to it and kind of find a solution it's going to be okay.

But still, yeah, as I said, you have to work really low on your legs. It's just getting more and more intense. She's not missing a lot, so basically she's gonna also, I mean, just use every opportunity to attack, as well. So you have to really play every ball with like intention to harm, you know, her.

Q. You have had such a great start to this year. How proud are you still keeping it going, winning these matches on and on and keeping it going?

IGA SWIATEK: I'm really proud, honestly. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of hard to catch up with everything, but I feel like we, as a team, we are doing such a good job to get me ready. For sure like physically after the matches we are doing really good recovery, but also mentally with Daria I think before the match we have really good pep talks that are keeping me really focused on the job, because, yeah, I mean, it's not easy.

I try to use this streak as something positive and something that's going to give me a kick, but yeah, it's pretty weird situation that I'm in.

Q. About the final, so you are going to play her -- the last time you played her is like three years ago on the court you said that even though you lost, that one was quite important match for you. How did you see like that?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure it was important, because that was like beginning of -- I think even that was like my first night session on WTA. Yeah, something like that. Not sure, but yeah, these matches were important because I felt like I'm doing progress and I can actually compete against the best players, because in previous round I won against Caroline Wozniacki which was also pretty cool.

Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty proud also of my progress, because right now I can see that, you know, I can win these kind of matches and be that kind of player that is going to go through the first rounds and be, you know, in the top and actually maybe stay there.

So for sure it's giving me a lot of confidence and a lot of satisfaction, you know.

Q. Naomi said that she was impressed how well you moved when she played the first time against you. What do you remember about her from that match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I remember we had really nice backhand crosscourt rallies. We kept each other really on the edge there. None of us missed basically.

I think it was like we were really solid on that side. I think she also mentioned that she was pretty surprised by that. Yeah, and I felt like I have nothing to lose. That was really freeing, you know. It was a pretty good experience for me.

I also remember that in important moments it kind of struck me that the best players are basically using their serve to stay in the match when they have like break down or something or they have breakpoints. Right now I'm that kind of player who can do that.

So, you know, coming back to that match, it's just showing how much progress I have done so I'm really proud of that.

Q. I remember you saying something after that match you felt starstruck almost. Do you still feel that way coming up against her a second time? How does that change for you three years later?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure it changed because I just, I don't know, right now I'm also dealing with some kind of popularity. For sure Naomi is more popular, but back then I felt like she's this kind of, you know, person, she's like really the business side of her career is really like strong, so for me was like a new experience seeing that kind of player.

Because before I didn't have a chance to even be around that kind of player, so right now it changed for sure because I have seen also other players getting that, and I'm getting that, so I can understand more. Actually, yeah, be in similar position.

Q. You have gotten to know each other, Instagram. What's it been like getting to know her better since that time?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, basically we had some chances to do that, for sure. Yeah, I mean, we talked on WhatsApp for some time, but for sure, you know, just during the tough times that she had and when she was off the tour for a little bit, it was pretty hard to, you know, stay in touch.

Yeah, she's that kind of person that I remember even asking her for advice, and she was pretty nice and open about it. Yeah, it's just good to be open, I guess, and help each other sometimes, yeah.

Q. Can you believe that just two or three years ago you were thinking about going to university or something?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I mean, I knew that I'm gonna be a pro player. I just didn't know if for sure if I -- I remember having a plan if I'm going to be top 20 I'm not going to university because I'm not gonna have time.

But even now I know that maybe after, you know, I'm done with tennis I can also go that way. So it wasn't really that much of a choice for me because I knew I'm going to play well and continue to develop my tennis.

Q. Are you excited? You are going to be No. 1 on Monday. She was the most recent No. 1 before Barty. It's a big match. People are excited for it. Are you also feeling excitement for it?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I mean, I am excited for sure, but on the other hand for me, the most important job is this is a match like any other, and really, I don't want to change my routines, I don't want to change my attitude, because it's been working out pretty well. I'm going to treat it like any other match.