QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 17, 2024

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/E. Rybakina

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Iga, congratulations. Champion here for the third time. Talk to us about the match. How does it feel to hold that trophy for the third time?

IGA SWIATEK: Really surreal, honestly. Well, I'm just proud of myself and the team, because it hasn't been easy for us after Australian Open. You know, I'm happy that I kept working and just didn't really think about too many stuff during this week and just focus on the right things, because I think it was the key, coming here, and being kind of the double-defending champion wasn't easy. So I'm happy that I have this experience already, and hopefully I'm going to use it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations. What is it in this tournament that makes you almost unbeatable? The atmosphere or something you eat? I don't know.

IGA SWIATEK: I would just say that it's work and makes up different things that happened that helped me, you know, to win. It's not like it's, you know, written somewhere. You have to really work for it and make it, so I wouldn't say it's something that I eat (smiling).

Q. Congrats, Iga. At 4-1 in that first set, there was the interruption because of her leg, and you had time to go and talk to your team. What were the adjustments you made at this moment? Do you think it was a shift in that match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think that time really helped me to just calm down a little bit, because I wasn't sure what to do. I was kind of panicking in terms of not really finding any solutions but really wanting to find them.

So it gave me time to just calm down. My coach helped me, you know, to change the tactics a little bit so I'm going to make less mistakes. Just play the ball back so we can play a little bit more (smiling).

Also, you know, I think it was a mix of that and just, you know, feeling the ball in the court a little bit better, because it was, for the first time, really windy today during my match, so I needed time to adjust to that, as well.

Q. Congratulations. You're always very thankful for your team. I think, like, two years ago when I asked you what is your turning point of your career, you said changing the coach to your current coach. Can you talk a little bit about how special the team is for you and what kind of a coach and his advices or his attitude or, you know, how it's changed since the past two years?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure, you know, we have been through some ups and downs, because, you know, it's a stressful job and it's a long journey. So for sure, you know, when I started in 2022, I was in that mode when you change the coach and everything is so positive and so easy, but then you have to keep it so you listen to coach and you understand what he wants to do with your tennis.

For sure today was that kind of match where I used his experience and just leaned on what he told me in terms of the tactics and what he wanted me to play. So for sure this match is one of the examples that is working, you know.

Q. What records would you like to break?

IGA SWIATEK: I never really thought of myself as a record breaker. You know, I already did a couple of records. It's been amazing. But honestly, I don't even know what records are there, because I think everybody is just talking about Serena and the slams, you know.

But I never really followed the other ones, but this was kind of cool. I never knew that it's so special to win three times in a row. But I would say that it happens when you actually don't know about it, so I don't aim to break any records. I'm just playing tennis, and that's all (smiling).

Q. What do you think about Djokovic records? Are they achievable?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, he achieved them, so they are. But how can I know? I don't know the future, and I don't know how tennis will change.

I wouldn't say I'm that kind of person that sees myself winning so many slams, because it just seems abstract, you know, for me, but honestly, I never knew when I was younger that I'm going to be World No. 1 or win even four slams. So what can I say?

Q. Congratulations on tonight's win. We saw a remarkable turnout of folks who were cheering your name, chanting encouraging slogans to you. Having such a large turnout of folks, especially if they are chanting in Polish, does that give you a sense of being home despite being so far away from home?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, it did. But still, I would say even better than home, because it's not easy to play with your home crowd. But here I feel like just the support really moved me up.

But on the other hand, I feel like people are respectful and they were cheering for Elena as well. Just the energy gave us a lot, especially after such a long first set.

I'm really grateful for that, because every year when I'm coming back here I feel more and more people supporting me. It's just great. So, yeah.

Q. Congratulations. Good to have you in Qatar. Since we are in February, what do you see as your goals for 2024?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't know, because last season showed me that tennis season can be really crazy. My goal is to just, you know, develop as a player, and we'll see.

Honestly, it's so long, I'm really focusing just on this part and next week, I would say. Then I'll see how it's going to go. But Olympics, for sure, is a big tournament. I'm not gonna lie.

Yeah, but I wouldn't say, like, one tournament is a specific goal for me, because at the end, I was proud of each of my seasons no matter which tournament I won or what happened. You're just happy that you can overcome obstacles and work hard.

Sometimes the titles are more for Wikipedia than for you, but this season, yeah, I'm just taking it easy step by step and week by week.

Q. Iga, is there something you have done today against Rybakina that you feel was much better than the previous times you have played against her?

IGA SWIATEK: No, I think I played better in Rome (smiling). Honestly, I think -- well, I remember this match pretty well, and I remember that I played good and I felt like it may be time for me to kind of win, but I remember she broke me back in second set, which was my mistake, obviously, that I let Elena come back to the game. And third I couldn't finish. So honestly, we don't know what would happen.

But, no, I feel like I played better in Rome. I wouldn't say I changed much.

Q. What music were you listening entering the court? And you change music every match, every tournament, or staying the same?

IGA SWIATEK: No, it's usually the same. I change it like every six months, I would say, to not get bored. This time was The Rolling Stones.

Q. Of course every title might be very special for you, but this time you are quite very emotional when you won the match. Is that any reason behind that, or...

IGA SWIATEK: Well, honestly because I thought I'm gonna lose here in second round. I wasn't feeling really confident before the tournament, and as I said, I didn't also have some peaceful time at home to just focus on working, so I wasn't really expecting a lot.

And then, you know, it felt like if you're going to give 100% and work hard, good things may come. So it was just a little bit surreal.