PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 18, 2024

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/E. Mertens

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Iga, congratulations on your opening-match win. Can you describe your thoughts after this match.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I'm really happy with the way I played. First match on clay, so it's always tricky. Elise was really good.

Sometimes at defense I had to be patient and really work for the points. So I'm happy with the way I handled it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. During the Media Day you said how, in the first days on clay, probably the mind is working differently because you expect a different bounce. Was that the case today?

IGA SWIATEK: No, because I already felt like I had couple of days to get used to the conditions.

Well, no, it was all good. Honestly, I felt pretty confident. I didn't feel like I need to, you know, really focus that much to adjust stuff compared to how I played on hard court.

But for sure tactically need to choose different options, but on the other hand it's still pretty fast here, so it's a good transition like in between.

Q. You mentioned Elise's defense, which I think on the first two match points was pretty incredible, I felt. How difficult psychologically is that when you're getting ball back after ball back, and probably you're thinking I think that's going to be a winner, but it wasn't. How tricky is that?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, usually when I think about my shot that it's going to be a winner, either I make a mistake or it's not a winner (smiling). I always try to be ready for the next one, and then I think I can keep my intensity, because I know I'm not going to have that moment where I just, you know, stand and watch. You know, I'm always going to be ready.

So I try to do that. It's not easy sometimes, yeah. Sometimes I felt like, you know, this could be the end of the rally. But on clay you kind of have to, that's one of the things you have to switch from hard court, you have to be ready for longer rallies and for players to be able to get back more, you know.

And also, I can use that. I can also get back more balls. So it works both ways, but you have to switch that mindset to be more patient.

Q. In previous times, there were not that many constant and dominant players on tour. Nine different Grand Slam winners over the last three years. Now maybe times are changing with you. Do you think you can take over the role as a dominant player in the future?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, the question is if I already did that for past two years, because I feel like I have been pretty dominant, and also Aryna has been, so we both kind of have shown that there is consistency on WTA. I remember when I was playing in 2020, 2021, I also got many questions about consistency, and I felt like some players, you know, have proven that it's possible. So I already feel like I have been pretty dominant.

But we'll see what next years are going to bring. There have been players that have been dominating throughout their whole careers, you know, and I'm still at the beginning. So there is still so much work to do.

Q. You won the last two years here. Can you say that you feel this pressure to hold title No. 3 here?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, there is always pressure behind me somewhere, you know. You can't avoid that on this level and when you're a favorite in every match. So I'm not really thinking about that.

It's tricky to win three times. I remember how I felt in Doha at the beginning of the tournament. Things were kind of following me, and it was hard to, like, let it go.

So here I just try to focus on the game, and I remember playing really some tricky matches during past two years. It's never an easy tournament, so I don't expect it. You know, I'm not taking it for granted or anything. I know that anything can happen in tennis, and if I lose, it's going to obviously be, like, a huge surprise, but it's normal, you know. So I'll try to focus on each match at a time and not think about winning, because it's still a long way.

Q. Looking ahead, I think Emma has quite a big lead at the moment, so just talking about facing her again, obviously you guys have played multiple times. You have played here. The match that you played here a couple of years ago was a little bit of a tricky one. What do you expect from that match if that were to happen?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, she seems like she's getting her game back together, so it's great to see that, because for sure she has potential.

Yeah, well, it's not going to be easy. She knows how to spin the ball and how to move on clay, as well.

So, yeah, we'll see. No sense to, like, talk about the tactics right now. It's not ready because I don't know who I'm playing against. Yeah, playing against Emma, we played against each other once but it wasn't easy. I wouldn't expect an easy match.

Q. If it is Noskova, obviously a very familiar opponent to you this year. It will be the fourth time I think you guys will play this year?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't know. Probably (smiling).

Q. What do you think of that matchup potentially on clay?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, fourth. Yeah (smiling).

Well, I don't know. I guess on clay, need to use different tactics and also move differently, so I'm not sure how she does that on clay, because I never watched any of her matches on clay.

But if I'm gonna play against Linda, I'm just going to rely on my coach and what he thinks is going to be the best in terms of adjusting the things that worked in Indian Wells and Miami.