THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/B. Bencic

6-7, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference for Iga Swiatek.

Iga, tough match out there today. Give us your thoughts on how you came through.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm just happy I won it because honestly in second set I wasn't sure that it's going to end that way. I'm happy that I kind of kept my belief and I just played and I didn't look back.

It wasn't an easy match. Rhythm was pretty fast. Yeah, I am happy that also physically I felt good till the end and I could just keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Two match points down, second one you went for the big winner. You derive the confidence from having won all the matches you won to go for that shot in that situation?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, right now I don't even remember how it was. But from what I know, usually I know that I have kind of nothing to lose. Usually I know that the player that is supposed to win this point is having little bit more pressure. I also know how it is to have match points and to kind of try to close it, but not be too impatient.

I just wanted to kind of play my game no matter what the situation was. I'm happy that I did that, yeah.

Q. Elina Svitolina is going to play you now. She says she respects you. How much is that a factor?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't think it's going to impact our game. For sure, yeah, we respect each other. We like each other. It's all pretty positive.

It's good to have these kind of players on tour that are nice and they have kind of good values, I think. I'm happy that she's back after becoming a mother. I don't know how tough it is, but I'm sure it's really tough.

Yeah, I'm happy that she's playing a solid game. I think it's going to be interesting in two days.

Q. How would you describe Elina as a player? What are your thoughts on the technical aspects of playing against her?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, we just played once in Rome on clay. I think she's that kind of player who is, I don't know, patient. She has enough experience to kind of have all the skills to play defense, play offense. She won so many big tournaments, like WTA Finals. She knows how to kind of play well.

I don't know what to tell you. She hasn't been on tour for, like, past two years. I for sure am going to prepare tactically. We also spent that quarantine time in Australia practicing with each other. She's really solid player.

So I have to be ready for everything.

Q. Do you feel better to win especially on grass? Is it better for you?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure this match is going to give me more belief. I'm happy that it was really tight and I could still play my game. Yeah, these are important moments for sure. You have to kind of take all the positive stuff from matches like that.

Q. You've been open to the process of the learning curve for you. You've beaten someone today who is known to love grass. Does that make you feel that you yourself are on the way to becoming a great grass-courter?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, as I said, it gives me belief. I don't know, more experience, for sure, because Belinda is really, really great player. As you said, she likes playing on grass. She has this game style that helps her a little bit on grass. It wasn't an easy match for sure today. You saw that.

I'm just happy that I won it 'cause it feels I'm going the right direction, yeah.

Q. I cover a lot of football. In football sometimes the best team doesn't win. In tennis normally the best player does. In the first set I thought you were the best player, but then in the second set...

IGA SWIATEK: Usually I'm kind of using my chances. I had six break points I think. I felt like I'm more solid. I still lost the set.

I didn't want to kind of focus on that in second and third. It stayed in my head a little bit. I felt like I should have been the one that won that set, but it doesn't work like that. I thought there's no sense to kind of think about that. I just wanted to go forward and have no regrets.

But on the other hand I felt like Belinda started her service games not the best way sometimes, but later in the game she was playing little bit better. For sure, it would be little bit easier I would use that chance. But I lost that set and I didn't really come back to that. I didn't want to come back to that in second and third. I'm happy that it worked.