MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 4, 2024

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/A. Sabalenka

7-5, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Talk about what you're feeling right now.

IGA SWIATEK: Oh, my God, I don't know. A lot of emotions. But for sure I'm really proud of myself and really happy, because when you, you know, have matches like that and when you actually have to fight through some stuff, it makes it even better. So I'm really proud of myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats. How wild was that for you? When you're in it, do you realize how crazy it is?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, yeah, that tiebreaker, for sure I realized it was crazy, but, like, you don't have time to really think about it (smiling). You just go for another point.

I really wanted to, I don't know, not think about the past and only focus on this exact moment that I was in. So, yeah, but overall I felt, yeah, it was crazy.

Q. In terms of getting that match win, she played, I thought, probably the best match she's played against you. What was she doing that you had to problem-solve throughout that match?

IGA SWIATEK: I would say I wasn't, you know, returning the second serves as well as on previous matches. But I'm not sure if it's about Aryna's serve or my return, so it's hard for me to say, yeah.

But for sure she was serving well. Probably, yeah, the best-serving player I played here. So it wasn't easy when she always got, like, couple free points during each game.

But I think the intensity overall, you know, Aryna is a really intense player, and when it's going in, you play a lot of rallies in defense. That was, for sure, a challenge today, yeah.

But I think it was more about, you know, who's going to be less stressed and who's going to be able to play with more freedom. I think actually for most of the match, she played more, like I felt like some decisions were pretty, you know, how to say it, like, courageous, you know. I was sometimes, you know, a little bit back. So at the end, I just wanted to not do that and to also be courageous.

Q. Congrats, Iga. Speaking of that, obviously you were serving to stay in the match, two match points against you. How were you feeling in that moment? Did you feel like you were able to tap into that courage at that point?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't know, because for most of the match, I was really trying to loosen up a little bit more. I felt like I can play better because I played better here on my past matches.

So it was hard to, like, do that and also actually work on how you have to play against Aryna. So there were a lot of thoughts and a lot of just work that I had to do in my head, you know.

But at the end, I don't know what made a difference. You know, I think we both kind of deserved to win today. I think it was only about these little points in the tiebreaker.

I don't know. What was your question? Sorry.

Q. The match points, how you were feeling.

IGA SWIATEK: Oh, the match points.

Well, before the tiebreaker, I was, like, well, I was, like, okay, she has a match point. I mean, sometimes it happens that I lose my serve, you know, when it's 5-4 or something like that. So I was, like, okay, whatever. It's not the first time in my life. I'm just going to go for it. I think I decided to play, like, a fast serve, a big one.

So I wanted, yeah, to be courageous in that moment. When it came to the tiebreaker, I was, like, okay, I already kind of, you know, I was kind of alive again, because I thought it's going to be over during the set. But in the tiebreaker, I just wasn't really thinking much about the past and just focused on each point individual.

But for sure when I had a match point and she served an ace, I was like, Oh, my God. Why can't I do that in such moment? (Laughter.)

Q. The level was high throughout, even if you felt you were a bit tight or this or that, the level was great from both, like you just said, she hits an ace, you hit a line, stuff like that. Do you surprise yourself that you're able to sustain such a high level over 3 hours and 11 minutes in a high-stakes situation like that? I guess, like you said on the court, no one can say women's tennis is boring after a match like that. How big of a statement was a match like that?

IGA SWIATEK: Physically and tennis-wise, I wasn't surprised, but I was surprised that in the third set I felt the best, like, mentally. Because, yeah, I actually felt like I need to dig through for these two hours and it didn't really work. I was, like, Oh, my God, am I going to feel a little bit more loose soon?

It didn't really happen, and then after two hours, it did. I was surprised by that.

But honestly, one thing that came through my mind was actually that I think Rafa had couple of matches like that. Guys have three sets, so they may have a little bit more time on Grand Slams to do that.

But I remember exactly when he was playing Medvedev in Australia and it clicked for him. It felt like it. He also struggled for a bit of time with some, he was tense and I think stressed. I mean, I'm not sure because I haven't talked to him. But it felt like that. That kind of gave me hope that maybe it will click, even after two hours. So yeah.

Q. Congratulations. How do you rate this match emotionally and tennis-wise in all the big battles that you had in the past in your career?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, this is hard, because I tend to erase most of the stuff when it already happened. So it's hard to compare with previous matches.

But I would say looking at only the finals, I think it was the most intense and, like, crazy final I played. But, like, every match, hard to say. But the final makes it, you know, even more crazy, you know.

Q. The level of female tennis actually is great, better than men, or you don't care at all? You have been 3 hours 11, only three sets, but do you think in that or you just don't care? Because it's amazing the level you have.

IGA SWIATEK: Thank you. Well, I think, you know, obviously if we would have to play against a man we would lose. It's not about that. It's about how two players, you know, match against each other. So I think we can play great matches.

You know, I'm No. 1, but I'm seeing these girls in top 10, we can play such an intense battles. I think it's all about, you know, what emotions it brings in people, and I think it's not that you should compare, you know, level of tennis, but you should compare, like, what it gives you when you watch it.

I think people can take a lot from watching women's tennis, and it can be interesting and emotional.

Q. If you don't mind sharing, before the trophy ceremony, you were on the phone when you were at your bench. I'm curious who's the first person you'd call after something like this? What were you thinking?

IGA SWIATEK: My dad and my sister, but I didn't hear the thing. Yeah, they were pretty happy and emotional, as well (smiling). But the music was so loud that I didn't hear anything. So I've got to talk to them afterwards.

Q. As you mentioned on court, this is the one big title you didn't have on clay. Wondering how much of a big achievement does it feel to have won everything on clay now?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I never thought of these things, you know, that way, because for me each tournament is a separate story. But for sure it's good to have it on your Wikipedia, and you guys have been asking for that, so here you go.

For sure when I look back in maybe a few years, it will mean a lot. But for now I'm just happy that I won this tournament anyway. Doesn't matter for me if I won it before or not. I try to win each tournament that I play, so yeah.

Q. Congrats. You have been talking with Garbine during the trophy ceremony. I don't know if you can tell us a little bit about that.

IGA SWIATEK: We were thinking how I should celebrate. I just told her that she seems happy, and I was happy to see her happy, being happy.

She's a really nice person, so it was nice that she was the one that gave me the trophy. Pretty special moment.

Yeah, I think she should have, like, all positive emotions about starting next part of her life without tennis, because I think, you know, if you approach it a good way, it can be great. She seems happy, so that's good.