MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 22, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Unfortunately Iga has had to withdraw from the tournament with a rib injury.

Iga, quickly talk us through the situation with your rib, just echo the same statements you made in your statement earlier today about the withdrawal.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I wanted to wait till the last minute. We were kind of checking if this is the kind of injury you can still play with or this is kind when you can get things worse.

So I think the smart move for me is to pull out of this tournament because I want to rest and take care of it properly.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. In Indian Wells you weren't sure if you'd be able to play here. It was still undecided. When did it actually happen and do you know how you actually did the injury over there?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, basically it's not like it happened in one minute or one second. It's not, like, a serious thing because we caught it up pretty early. So I felt like it was a process.

At first with these minor things your body doesn't feel anything. I felt it mostly -- I started to feel it at the last games against Sorana. That's why, yeah, I was playing Indian Wells fully, and I decided I want to finish the tournament anyway.

Q. In terms of the injury, is it mainly muscular? Is it bone? Can you give us any details you're comfortable with?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't want to.

As I said, we caught it up early. On one hand obviously you want to continue playing, but on the other hand I'm that kind of person who wants to -- I'm kind of aware if something hurts, it's usually going to be a problem in the future. That's why I wanted to check it out as fast as possible. That's why I'm kind of taking a much more safe approach to that. That's why I'm pulling out.

Q. Is it hurting you a lot all the time? Is it when you take a deep breath? Is it when you go to stretch? How does that feel?

IGA SWIATEK: No, I would say in certain movements. Well, little bit when I served, but that's probably because that's like the toughest movement probably. But, no, it's not bad. I can do, like, many stuff.

The break is not going to be long if everything goes well. I'm not concerned and it's not that kind of pain. It's not a big pain, honestly. It's just that I know I can make it worse if I play.

Q. Have you started any type of physical therapy? What does physical therapy look like in the next month or so?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm doing that all the time basically. I travel with physio on every tournament. I'm taken care of.

This is that kind of thing that you sometimes don't have influence on. I've started it. But I think, I mean, I got an opinion from my medical advisors and my physio that this week the best solution is to just let it rest. When I'll be back home, I'll start doing some more, like, prevention exercises, and will be good.

Q. On a slightly wider subject, do you feel like you and Rybakina and Sabalenka are making a little bit of distance between yourselves and the rest of the field?

IGA SWIATEK: Hmm... It's a hard question because there are also, like, many players who play great tennis. On the other hand, last year you could say that about me and Ons little bit. So I think we need, like, couple more tournaments or couple more months to kind of, I don't know, judge that.

But I'm never going to think of myself or somebody who's, like, suddenly in a different place because I still am aware that each of us can win the tournaments. I kind of want to be ready and on my toes all the time to face my opponents.

I don't look at it that way. But for sure we played many matches. I played against Aryna, like, I don't know six times last year, and against Elena twice this year already. You can see that there's like maybe little bit of a rivalry.

As I said, I also know that there are many other players that can perform really well.

Q. Do you know when you think you'll be back on court? Have you thought about ranking implications?

IGA SWIATEK: Oh, you know. Hmmm... Of course, I'm going to lose points from this tournament, but it doesn't change anything in terms of my approach and my mentality.

I was also aware at the beginning of the season that it's going to be hard for me to defend all these points because it's not, like, these streaks, winning all these tournaments is like, looking logically and statistically, it's not like it's going to happen every year.

I'm doing my best job to play as best as possible. For sure this tournament is not going to help. But on the other hand, as I said, injuries happen. I didn't have any injury since like - what - three years ago. I feel maybe not lucky because I know it's hard work, and also the care that my team gives me.

I feel like I'm only right now missing one tournament. What's going to happen next, we'll see. Obviously it's going to depend of the recovery. Yeah, but for now it's not a horrible scenario. It happens.

Q. This is a real simple one. I know it's beyond your control, but basically how disappointing is it not to be able to defend in Miami, what that was like for you last year?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it was an amazing tournament last year, especially because it kind of gave me the belief that I can play in any circumstances and conditions 'cause it's totally different from Indian Wells and I was able to adjust really, really fast.

So, yeah, I have only good memories from here, maybe except that (indiscernible). That was pretty hard. And at the end you can't even look at that pasta with chicken eat before the match.

I remember it was physically really hard, so I was really proud that I could finish the tournament so well. For sure I would like to repeat it this year, but I know it's not possible. I know I'll have many more chances on other tournaments.

Q. On the new jacket...

IGA SWIATEK: You like it?

Q. It's sharp.

IGA SWIATEK: Thanks (laughter).

Q. Can you give us a little bit of insight into the process of that, of deciding a new kit sponsor? Also, how much did Roger's involvement with the company kind of play into your decision making?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, from my side, I think just the fact that Roger is involved in that kind of company is just a good kind of recommendation for tennis players. I think also he influenced a lot on their side, so that's why they want to go further and they want to sign players.

But I'm pretty happy that we could make it happen because I feel like we share the same values. They have, like, kind of a personal approach for the players. I feel like it's treating me first like a person but not mainly as a machine to win, you know? It's a nice feeling to have that kind of support. I'm really happy that I'm starting this new chapter.

Q. With the new ambassadorship, how did it actually come about? Did Roger come and talk to you directly initially or was there another process?

IGA SWIATEK: No, we didn't talk at the beginning. We actually have never met because when I started playing on tour, he struggled with injuries. I didn't have a chance to do that.

But, well, I think the process was, like, pretty normal. They reach out to me and to my agents, and we just talked.

I don't know. Can you be more specific because I don't know what to tell you?

Q. (No microphone.)

IGA SWIATEK: No, no, not at first, yeah.