AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/J. Niemeier

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Iga, congratulations. Your first match done.

IGA SWIATEK: Thanks.

THE MODERATOR: A very tough opponent. Talk us through your thoughts on the match, what you were pleased with today.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure I'm happy I was able to come back in second set and break back. That was an important moment, for sure.

But, yeah, well, it's beginning of the season. First match of a first Grand Slam. So always tough. Jule is not an easy opponent, so I'm happy I'm through and going to be able to play more matches here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How did you feel when you were down 5-3, how you thought you changed the set, got the win?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I knew that I could, I don't know, get my focus up a little bit, like, the intensity a little bit more. So I did that.

But, yeah, for sure, I mean, my goal for next matches is not being in those situations and not starting the set with losing a break. But it happens.

I'm happy that I was able to come back. It wasn't like I needed to really change a lot. I just needed to, like, yeah, as I said, have more intensity.

Q. Quite a few deuce games on your serve. Today first-serve percentage was a little bit on the lower side. Getting through that match, being able to 'win ugly' in some cases, is that a confidence booster for you? Is it a red flag? How do you see the first match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it is actually because it shows me kind of that I don't have to feel hundred percent perfectly to still win the match. I have kind of skills sometimes to, I don't know, just use other options when something is not working.

But on the other hand it's the first round, so I know that I'm going to do my best to work on these things, and on the next match maybe it's going to get better.

Also, Jule was kind of aggressive. I don't know, it's just sometimes like that for no reason (smiling).

Q. On the court you mentioned last year was a turning point for you. At the beginning of last year, how did you feel about fast hard courts and your prospects on them?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, at the beginning of last year I didn't have that much confidence that I can also win big titles on hard court 'cause all of them basically happened last season.

Also before I think the media kind of described me as a clay court player. Maybe that got into me a little bit. But, yeah, for sure working with Tomas, I don't know, I just felt like I can be more aggressive and more (indiscernible) on hard court, I don't have to be the baseline player. I really used that in my matches, then the results kind of showed me that I'm going right direction.

Q. This is your fourth slam that you've played as a No. 1, right?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah.

Q. Does it feel any different with each time that you've now done this, world No. 1, top seed at a major? Does it feel different?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure maybe a little bit this time it feels different because during the pre-season and my time at home, not being focused on playing matches, I had a lot of time to kind of think and analyze. I kind of realized what happened.

Last year I was just focused on my next steps and my next matches. For sure I feel the expectations, that people kind of little bit they want to take for granted that I'm going to win those first rounds. It's always not easy. Every match is a different story. You have to really work hard to make it done, to win.

I just feel like, yeah, they're taking it for granted a little bit. There's no reason to do that honestly because I know I had streak last year, and I was consistent. Yeah, as I said, every match is a different story, every season is different.

I feel expectations a little bit more this time, but I know I can kind of work on that. I just wish that some people would understand little bit more how it is to, like, compete every week of your life basically.

Yeah, you just have to deal with that. Maybe it will be a little bit easier if there were less people that are kind of judging.

Q. Where does that sense that people are judging or being critical seep in? Is it because you hear the press? The questions that come in the interviews you have?

IGA SWIATEK: Uhm, for sure I feel like people are really focused on the numbers and on the statistics. I feel like they have, like, they're looking at those matches, yeah, like not from a -- not seeing that we are still people, and we have to really fight for it, you know?

They're just like, I don't know, you have more skills and you're using them, so you're going to win. They're just looking at numbers.

I don't know. I know that I also put a lot of expectations on myself, but I'm working on that. It just feels like sometimes, yeah, they're not treating you still as a human, but more like a robot who has to win.

Q. Last year Ash Barty went into a bubble to try to keep the noise quiet. That's how she stayed so relaxed. How are you going to do that in the next couple of weeks?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, that's my plan, to kind of be in the bubble. But, yeah, as I said, I think the pre-season and actually using more social media than during the season, not being focused on matches but, like, actually doing everything that I wanted to, it kind of ruined my rhythm a little bit.

On the other hand you also need that time to just charge up your energy, you know? I feel like right now it's a little bit harder to have this bubble and not feel all these interruptions and expectations.

But that's my plan, to be in the bubble. I always enjoyed it. So I feel like day by day I'm going to be able to be in the bubble even more.

Q. What are you doing to not be overwhelmed with tennis every single day for 14 days?

IGA SWIATEK: I go to parks usually and during my day off I try to go to beach. I'm reading a lot to kind of be in a different world a little bit. And what else? I don't know, I just keep myself busy with TV shows and books mostly (smiling).