THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2023

Katie Swan

Press Conference

B. BENCIC/K. Swan

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Obviously a really good effort there. Couldn't quite get over the line, but how did you feel about the whole experience and being on Court 2 as well?

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, I was excited when I saw the schedule. Court 2 is the biggest court I have played on here. Yeah, I was really looking forward to it.

I was so nervous like 10 minutes before I walked on. I felt like my whole body shaking, but I was actually quite pleased with the way that I started, considering, and kept it tight pretty much all the way through that first set.

Had chances, as well. Just didn't play well enough in the big moments. But, yeah, she's a great player. I knew it was going to be tough. Yeah, there's positives to take from it and also lots to learn and take forward.

Q. You must have been really pleased with your serve, because that was causing her all sorts of problems and a load of aces?

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, I actually surprised myself with how well I served. I don't think I have hit that many aces for a while. Yeah, that was pretty positive, considering the wind as well. It was really tough. I think we both served quite well.

Q. Is that something you have been working on ahead of the grass court season or not really?

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, I mean, my serve is always ongoing process. But yeah, I mean, that's probably the best I have served in a while. I was quite happy with that.

Q. There was really kind of a point maybe towards the end of that first set, and then you had that sixth game of the second set where it was kind of back and forth and she got the break there. Were those the kind of sort of points you felt she just played those key ones a little bit better?

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, I definitely think I was letting some of her service games get away from me too quickly, and she was always serving first so she was always ahead.

Yeah, it was just a few things here and there that I think if I had been a bit sharper, put a bit more pressure on her serve. I missed too many second serve returns, and if I had done more with that, then the match could have been different.

But, you know, that's the way it goes sometimes. Yeah, you just have to take what you can from it and move forward.

Q. You mentioned about it's the biggest court and biggest crowd that you have played in front of. They were really getting behind you. I imagine that was a nice feeling.

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, they were great. I love playing in front of the home crowd. Just a shame I couldn't get a win today. But yeah, it's always a lot of fun playing in front of home support.

Q. What's your schedule kind of look like I guess now sort of couple of months leading towards the end of the season?

KATIE SWAN: My next moves will be to the U.S. I will probably do a couple of weeks out there training and then start playing a bunch of tournaments and lead-up to US Open on the hard courts.

Q. Disappointed that it's finished here but exciting kind of the next part to go to and try to qualify for Flushing Meadows obviously.

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, that's the great thing about tennis is you can always play another tournament next week.

This one definitely hurts today, but I will move on from it and take what I can. I played some really good tennis over the grass court season and I'm looking forward to taking that into the hard court season.

Q. An Olympic champion, pushed her really close. You kind of hoping that it would boost your confidence and in 12 months' time you can come back and beat an even better player.

KATIE SWAN: Yeah, that would be great. That's the goal.