THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/J. Fett

6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Iga, tell us a little bit about the match today.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm just really happy that I made it through 'cause the first rounds are always tricky, especially if it's my first match on grass.

I'm happy that I was able to implement all this stuff that we were practicing on.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You opened play today, and now as we speak Rafa is playing after you on Centre Court. How did it feel to both have the honor to open on Centre Court today, but also doing so just before your idol? Are we keeping you from watching his match right now?

IGA SWIATEK: That's true. Let's make it quick (laughter).

Basically it's a huge privilege that I was chosen as the one who is going to be opening. It wasn't obvious because obviously Ash would be opening if she was here.

Yeah, there are many great champions in the draw. I just felt, like, it's an honor, you know. I'm pretty happy it was a good match from me and a good performance for sure.

Yeah, and I don't even know what's the score during Rafa's match, so I'm just trying to be focused on the work. I'm going to watch later, for sure, unless he's going to finish in like an hour (smiling).

Q. You've now faced Coco Gauff three times, none on grass. How would you describe her play?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure huge serve. Oh, my God, I don't know how much I should tell you, you know (smiling). For sure my tactics were fine when I was playing against her, so... I got to choose the right words.

For sure she has great serve and her backhand is pretty flat, really consistent. From her backhand side, it's a great weapon of hers. I'm pretty impressed on how she's playing on the net. It seems that all the doubles that she's been playing, it actually gave her a lot.

When I was her age, basically I had no idea how to play volleys, so that's pretty impressive. I feel like she's developing every month even. I'm pretty sure that she's going to win Grand Slams soon.

Q. You're now ahead of both the Williams sisters on the winning streak thing. Do you feel that's where you belong? That's an amazing thing to have achieved.

IGA SWIATEK: Not really because still when I see Serena or see Venus, they seem like, I don't know, the legends. I don't consider myself a legend. They seem like the ones, they're the greatest of all time in tennis. So not really.

But it's amazing for me to have that kind of streak. It just shows how much work we've been putting for every match. I'm pretty happy that I could show consistency because it was always my goal. I didn't know it's going to be possible for me to show that much consistency, and actually to win tournaments. But I'm just really happy and I'm trying to use it the best way possible.

Q. I wanted to ask you about routines. Are you a creature of routine? Do you have any particular routine during a Grand Slam? Also how important is consistency to you?

IGA SWIATEK: It was my goal during the whole season 2021. So basically this year my goal was a little bit different. But I'm pretty happy that the consistency that I had before, it was quarterfinals of tournaments, fourth rounds of Grand Slams. But right now I went to different level. I'm even more consistent at it. It's important. I feel like I achieved that goal, so that's great.

But, and the routines, basically they are the same on every tournament. I try to treat every match the same way. I think if I would change anything on a Grand Slam, it may like really stress me out because I would feel this is a Grand Slam. We have to kind of perform better because the expectations around are bigger.

I'm trying to avoid thinking about that and just accept it that it's there. But make my routines the same way so I feel the same way.

Q. Your compatriot Maja Chwalinska won her first Grand Slam match the other day. You played doubles with her in juniors. What do you know about her? She took time off for depression last year.

IGA SWIATEK: Basically we are best friends, so it's a lot. I can say a lot about her. We know each other since we were 10. We've been traveling to the same tournaments for like, I don't know, five years. Then we kind of went two different ways.

But I'm really happy that she's here because it's so nice to have, I don't know, just a friend on tour and from the same country.

Yeah, I'm just happy for her. I know all the things that she's been through. It's been tough for her. She made it through and that's the most important thing. I just hope she's going to also be consistent and she's going to be on other WTA tournaments.

Q. I wanted to ask you about opening Centre Court on the Tuesday in place of Ash, how you felt when you found out it was going to be you, whether there was any part of you that maybe didn't want to do it and wanted to wait until you were the defending champion.

IGA SWIATEK: I didn't think of it that way. It was more like I felt like there were many players in the draw that kind of had great results here, kind of deserve it a little bit more because my best result on Wimbledon is fourth round. Considering that we have, I don't know, Serena in the draw, Simona, or Kvitova, I mean, they've won this tournament. So I felt like they would be the right person there.

But on the other hand I'm pretty happy that I could do that. I think I also earned it because I showed consistency during past few weeks. It was a huge privilege.

But I want to do this match as any other match so I can really just perform well because that's the most important thing for me. After that, after doing the job, I can think about all the tradition that goes with it and everything.

But I'm pretty happy that I was able to play well, to show my tennis. Yeah, it's a huge honor to do that.

Q. I wanted to ask you about how valuable you think the time is that you're given at changeovers between games or sets. Could you maybe give an idea of what's going on in your mind during those times.

IGA SWIATEK: I think it's very valuable. I'm trying to use it the best way possible because, yeah, I mean, I feel the difference when I'm really focused and when I'm using that time to, I don't know, breathe a little bit more and focus on proper things. I feel the difference when my head is running around and I'm hearing the crowd or someone speaking behind me.

It gives me peace when I do the right things. It's a good time also to, I don't know, remember my key words that I have before the match in terms of tactics, yeah.