QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 12, 2024

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/S. Cirstea

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Iga, could you let us know your thoughts after the match.

IGA SWIATEK: For sure I'm happy with my performance, and I feel like it was a really solid match. I kind of felt like I was able to keep my focus from the beginning till the end. Then, you know, after every game I was more confident and I could even, you know, relax a little bit more at the end. So I'm happy that I just played solid.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk about your forehand a little bit? Because today you made I think many winners with your forehand. Are you comfortable with your forehand?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm getting there (smiling). No, I mean, as you could see on the match, it worked, you know. We have been working hard for it to be better.

So, yeah, I mean, I have, as you know, big topspin and my forehand can really, you know, make a lot of impact so I'm trying to use that. It's a little bit easier to do that on a slower surface, so yeah, I feel like I can do a little bit more here with my forehand.

Q. Also, can you make sure that this surface, hard court here, is slower than, like, Melbourne or other hardcourt?

IGA SWIATEK: Oh, yeah, for sure. It's for sure much more slower, yeah.

Q. I talked to some of the players, and a few players pointed out that you are becoming much more, like, offensive or attacking faster than compared to a couple years ago. Do you agree with that?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think the biggest difference was, you know, in 2022 when I started, you know, working more on this offensive formations it was a little bit easier for me to use them during the match, and for sure I felt like I have more variety and I could use it.

I would say it depends. I have times where I feel, yeah, like, I'm playing sometimes even too aggressively, so I'm still learning how to balance that to use all these advantages that, you know, being a great defense player and having this, you know, ability to play high topspin and the balls that are going to push my opponent further from the baseline and on the other hand being able to sometimes go forward and play more fat.

So I feel like I can do both, but I feel like I still need to learn, you know, how to manage it the best way and pick the right solutions and right tournaments and right surfaces. But my coach is really smart and he has a good eye, so he always tells me what will be the best option, so that's really helpful.