BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 12, 2024

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/Y. Putintseva

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congrats on the win. Just in terms of playing the night match, I know yesterday you practiced at night. Curious what was the biggest adjustment that the night practice allowed you to make to prepare you for tonight?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure we check the tension. I'm really happy that actually Caroline gave us info before that I'm going to play night session, because it made it a little bit easier, you know. So yeah, we checked if the tension is going to be, if we have to, you know, make it lower.

Honestly, I didn't feel like I did make any technical adjustments after that. But for sure you just have to be aware that the ball is going to fly a little bit different. It felt good, anyway.

Q. You've got Caro Wozniacki next. She mentioned that you had practiced a little bit before. How much do you know about her game and what are you expecting?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I know a lot from a fan perspective, because I was watching her when I was younger. She's really, you know, consistent, solid, and you have to be patient playing against Caroline.

But more tactical stuff, for sure, that my coach is going to prepare for me and we're going to talk before the match.

I honestly didn't know I was going to play against Caro. I got to know in my postmatch interview. I don't have anything ready yet, but for sure it's going to be exciting and it's going to tough, so I'll be ready and I'll do my best.

Q. Have you ever had a player underarm serve you before?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't think so, honestly. Maybe they teach that in Kazakhstan. I don't know, because Bublik does the same.

I don't really care. Honestly, if the serve would be in, that would be my best return probably of the match (smiling). I was actually unhappy that it was out. But, I mean, I'm ready for anything that comes to me, so I don't really care what's going on on the other side of the net.

Q. Being able to focus when there is an underarm serve, the crowd is going crazy that she won a game, there is a lot that goes on in your matches sometimes that is not normal.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, you know, I can only be responsible for what's going on with me. I want to keep my standards high no matter what's going on, and I think this match was, like, a test for my mental training that I did. I'm happy with the way I was focused and really just, I didn't really care about what's going on. You know, I'm prepared that, you know, many things can happen on court.

So no point for me, like, to comment more. I'm just kind of focusing on myself.

Q. I think it was Jimmy who pointed out on Twitter you had seen the girl drop the ball and then made sure she got it at the end. You must be pretty aware of your surroundings when you're playing.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, sorry, Jimmy, but you got it a little bit wrong. Yeah, I saw something happen and the crowd was laughing or even booing. I didn't honestly know why.

So that was, you know, during the match, so as I was answering Courtney's questions I was really focused and I didn't know what happened. I just saw her went like that. I was, like, Okay, whatever.

But after the match I aimed to give the ball to, like, little boy and he didn't catch it, so I gave the ball to the little boy but I'm happy that the girl also got it.

Thank you, Internet, for making it even more, making me even more classy, I don't know (smiling).

But the ball was for the boy. He got it at the end, so I'm glad that both of these people were happy.

Q. How is the Vespa going?

IGA SWIATEK: Actually today I had quite a bit of time when I was waiting for my match, but it's not easy to squeeze it into my schedule. I'm watching "The Good Wife," I'm watching "Full Swing," reading, so it's tough, but, like, always fun. You know, there is a lot of light during the day here, so it's really nice to just sit and enjoy the nature and do a Lego.

Q. Do you listen to music while you work on Lego?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, yeah, sometimes, but during tournaments I don't listen to music that much because it's just in my head all the time, so I listen to it before the match. But there's the playlist on Spotify, like, Have a Good Day and it has some classic American hits. So we're listening to that when we're driving, doing Legos, so it's fun. Really nerdy.