ROLAND GARROS

June 1, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/C. Liu

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Iga, first win as a 22-year-old. Just talk us through the keys to the match today and how you came out with the victory.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure, you know, kind of in my head and physically the process was pretty similar as two days ago. So I was able to play a little bit better in the second set, and I kind of used first set to get more information and get into the rhythm, but Claire played pretty well. I feel like it was more intense.

But I'm happy that I'm into the third round and I have a chance to play more matches here.

Q. Every year when you celebrate your birthday here at Roland Garros, you get a birthday cake, and I was wondering what happens to it next? Do you eat it all? Do you share it with friends and family?

IGA SWIATEK: If I would eat it all, I probably wouldn't be able to run today, but --

Q. Does it disappear? And the other question is: Do you think it's a nice birthday present, or would you like something a bit more practical for your stay here at Roland Garros? Maybe like a bigger trophy cabinet?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, besides the cake, I also got some small gifts from the tournament, so it was pretty nice, and I really appreciate that. I think it's a nice gesture.

But, yeah, well, last year I didn't try the cake. This year I did because it was my day off, so I ate it with my team. It was pretty nice. We had lunch together, and we celebrated a little bit, so that was fun.

Q. A question about scheduling. Five out of five of the night sessions on Chatrier have been men's matches. It was a talking point last year as well. I just wonder your thoughts on that.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, my thoughts didn't really change, but honestly, I have to tell you that I kind of requested every day to play a day session because I felt like I played already night sessions in this clay court swing.

Well, I didn't even, like, kind of know this because I'm not watching these late evening matches. I'm mostly just kind of recovering and not thinking about tennis. But obviously it would be nice if we had women's matches as well.

But, as I said, I'm not kind of helping that because I always requested a day session match. But I don't really know what the schedule is for next day, so I can't really go that far and judge because I haven't really checked it.

Q. The first question is: Has 22 just been on repeat for the last 48 hours?

IGA SWIATEK: In my head for sure. For sure, yeah.

Q. The second one is Taylor is in the midst of her Eras Tour, and I'm wondering what era you consider yourself in right now?

IGA SWIATEK: That's a tough one. I have no idea. Like, I can honestly feel all the eras anyway. No, it's hard to say. I don't know.

Q. Are you still in the "Evermore," "Folklore" --

IGA SWIATEK: I don't think I'll ever get to Reputation era, though, because it's pretty aggressive. I love these two albums, "Folklore" and "Evermore."

But in terms of my mindset and kind of how I feel, it's hard to say which one I'm in. Maybe -- I don't know. I don't know. I'll think about it.

Q. You're more a "Lover" than a "Reputation"?

IGA SWIATEK: No, no. No. I don't know. I always felt like my favorite album was "Red," so maybe this one.

Q. If I can get you back to your junior years, just wondering if you can reflect, do you think it has helped you playing Grand Slams as a junior to ease into this transition to now? When you think back, do you think that means something to be good as a junior, especially on the women's side?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure having the experience and playing Grand Slams helped because I felt really, like, overwhelmed during my first years as a junior when I came here and on Wimbledon.

It was nice. I had a chance to kind of see what the vibe there is on Grand Slams and how it all works. But I don't think it fully matters if you're, like, I don't know, first in the ranking in juniors or you're going to be top 10 or you're going to be 50. There are many players who are kind of raising to their best level at their age a little bit later, so for me it was always about kind of being solid.

I don't think I ever was first. I think I was more, like, fifth on ITF rankings under 18. So, yeah, I wasn't really focused on that.

When I won junior Wimbledon, I already felt like I got all the experience that I needed, and I started playing pro, so I wasn't really focused on getting the ranking. It was more about experience.

Q. On behalf of all Ukraine, as a Ukrainian journalist, I want to thank you for everything you're doing for us. We support you a lot as like our own player. My question is: Last year you held an event in Krakow together with Elina and Sergiy Stakhovsky. Are you planning to do something like this this year or maybe we can dream about coming and seeing you in Ukraine one day?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I wasn't planning to do that, but it's been in the back of my head to repeat that. But, honestly, this year wasn't as smooth and easy for me in terms of how I feel on every tournament. I had some injuries as well, so I put this other first place to kind of feel better and be ready for every tournament.

But I would love to repeat that someday. You can push my PR manager because she's been kind of responsible for making the event in Krakow, and we did a great job. So I think there is a potential to do it again or to just kind of bring people together and gain some attention to kind of push them to help Ukraine a little bit more.

Q. Can I ask, what were you listening to when you walked onto court today? Is Taylor Swift a figure of inspiration for you as well?

IGA SWIATEK: So Taylor Swift -- well, I'm not listening to her before my matches. I don't think it will pump me up. Maybe "Shake It Off" when I'm more stressed.

Today was Lenny Kravitz, and usually I'm listening to more rock. Not too hard, but the bands that are kind of mainstream, and they have a lot of energy in their songs.

But Taylor Swift, for sure. You know, when I was younger and kind of confused about life and when I was a teenager, when I listened to her, I didn't feel alone. Also, I learned English by listening to her songs, so she was always kind of close to me.

Q. You said on Friday that you are using sometimes the rooms to stay quiet and do some microsleeps. I just want to know --

IGA SWIATEK: Do what?

Q. To do little sleeps during the tournaments. To rest a little bit.

IGA SWIATEK: You mean naps?

Q. Naps, yes, or just --

IGA SWIATEK: It's hard for me to make a nap because I'm a light sleeper, so here it's kind of impossible for me, but I use that room to just rest.

What was your question?

Q. Just to know how much do you use the rooms? Do you use the rooms to stay quiet, if it's something very important for you, and if it's something you can find everywhere in the world in different tournaments?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I would love to have a chance to have these kind of quiet rooms and places to rest in more tournaments. Because, for example, in Rome there's no -- we don't have any space like that, and it's so loud everywhere and so crowded.

So, for sure it's just really convenient. I feel like I'm not wasting my energy, and I don't have too many factors that are kind of -- that I'm always hearing and looking at.

So I use this on my match days for sure before the match, but on my days off I'm kind of more social, so yeah.

Q. We've just heard that this year the nighttime matches are being billed as the main event box office matches. As we've heard, five out of five of those matches so far have been the men's matches. You've just told us your preference is to play during the daytime. So do you think there is a potential conflict between what the broadcasters are looking for and what some of the top players are looking for?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't think it's a surprise that -- I mean, there are players who like the hype and the energy, and maybe playing during the night because also of the conditions. But for me it's more comfortable to just have the normal day/night rhythm, and I kind of lost it after Madrid.

So in terms of regeneration, recovery, and just kind of being in a good rhythm and also keeping better mindset through the end of the tournament, I think it's more healthy for me to play day sessions. But I'll be also ready for night sessions. I already played many of them this year or last year.

Honestly, if there is a pretty big request, I always kind of adjust. Then maybe if I play many night sessions during a tournament and I kind of straightforwardly said that, please, if you could schedule me a little bit earlier, that would be nice. I may get a little bit frustrated as I did in Madrid. You could see in my speech. Maybe I should have said that. I also understand that there is sometimes a need for us to play late.

But, on the other hand, in Rome I already played my third or fourth match after midnight. It was an intense time anyway, but I don't know. Maybe if I would have kind of normal day/night rhythm, I would be able to recover more, and I wouldn't get injured.

There are a lot of factors that we have to take under consideration. I just think it's more healthy to play during the day, as we're used to as we were kind of raised to play.