CHINA OPEN

October 2, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/S. Sorribes-Tormo

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to get your China Open debut under your belt?

IGA SWIATEK: It was really nice. I love playing on the court. I thought the court was really nice. Yeah, I enjoyed the game. I'm happy that I'm through to the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A few more thoughts on where you thought that match today was won and lost. What went well for you today?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't know. I feel like I was pretty patient. You have to be patient with her because she's running for every ball. I kind of wanted to just be solid and be intensive but not make too many mistakes with risking.

I'm pretty happy I could balance that. It just worked, so I'm happy.

Q. It looked not very hard for you to play today. Did it get you good energy for the rest of the tournament? What are you expecting in the next round? Do you know your opponent in the next round?

IGA SWIATEK: It's never easy, especially at the end of the season. But for sure I feel like the conditions are a little bit easier than in Tokyo, so it's a change to the nice direction.

Next opponent, yeah, I know Varvara Gracheva. I think she's one year older than me or maybe the same age. We played in junior tournaments. She's a solid player.

I don't know what to expect because tennis is pretty unpredictable. The only thing I have influence on is my game and my mentality so I'll just be 100% focused on what I want to do. For sure tactically I'll prepare because everything is tight on WTA.

Q. A question about the performance bye rule. In this year's China Open, the top seeds like you and Aryna Sabalenka did not get a bye in the first round. Some lower-ranked players who reached semifinals or finals in the previous tournament earned a bye. How do you feel about this rule? What's your thoughts on that?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I didn't really dig into this rule so much because these are the first tournaments that I'm playing where it's possible to get this kind of thing. But it's been on tour for a long time.

I think it's smart because usually when I had the tournaments, when I really played till the end, I know how it is to rush to another tournament and not really have time to rest and prepare. So I think that rule is fine. I think that rule makes sense. Yeah, it's for sure different because usually the top-seeded player gets the bye.

I don't know really 'cause I haven't dig into this whole situation. I know there has been some fuss and misunderstanding.

I really just want to focus on myself. For me, doesn't matter if I'm going to play one more match. It's another opportunity for me to kind of win and to play. So it really doesn't matter for me if I play another match or not.

Q. In terms of net play today, 17 approaches in the first set. 15 wins off of those approaches. Earlier in your career, I remember Roland Garros the first time, coming to the net seemed pretty comfortable for you. I don't know if it was comfortable, but you were up there a lot.

IGA SWIATEK: First Roland Garros?

Q. Yeah. Felt like it.

IGA SWIATEK: Okay, I don't remember (smiling).

Q. In terms of just wanting to get back to that, try to incorporate that more into your game, can you talk a little bit more about the mindset there.

IGA SWIATEK: I never felt like I need to get back to that because I always felt like this is something new that I'm working on. Yeah, I didn't go to the net a lot.

For sure today I felt really confident and comfortable because I've been practicing that a lot. I'm pretty proud of my performance at the net because, like, technically I feel like my volley as changed. Yeah, I'm really happy with that.

I think against some players it's kind of necessary to go to the net, and today that was that kind of a match. I'm happy it was kind of my decision. It was different than some of the matches I played when I kind of couldn't force myself to go forward.

I'm happy that the work I'm doing in terms of my volleys really kind of paying off and I can see the progress.

Q. What is the key for you to feel more comfortable at the front of the court? Is it the decision making to come in? The transition? The approach? The volley itself?

IGA SWIATEK: It's pretty easy because I hadn't practiced that when I was younger. I literally started working my volley with Tomasz, so it's pretty late.

I think just working on it is going to give me a lot of change. We are working on it. It's important to him to kind of make me a more complete play in terms of that.

Yeah, it's both the decision making and just playing the volley right technically. But, yeah, for now I wouldn't say it's an issue 'cause I felt pretty confident today.

I know sometimes stress can kind of mess up the technique. I can see I'm doing progress because of matches like today.

Q. Obviously you have met some of your Chinese fans. Have you opened the gifts? Are there any interesting gifts? Could you please share your thoughts on that.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I got some pretty fun gifts. Mostly it's LEGOs or I got this - I don't know what's the name of the company - but you're like building a little person from LEGO. I got myself, so it was pretty fun, holding the Roland Garros trophy. Yeah, it was pretty creative.

I didn't really (indiscernible) myself because I felt like it's kind of awkward. I gave it to Daria. It's just fun and cute, so I'm happy that people in China are so excited to see tennis. I got a lot of words and notes with support, so I'm really grateful for that.