AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/K. Siniakova

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Iga, Katerina is obviously a really good player. How does it feel to get that tricky first round under your belt?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure it wasn't the easiest match to start. But I'm happy that, I don't know, I kind of played better I feel at the end of the second set. So I was able to learn from what I did wrong in the first, sometimes when she broke back and everything...

But yeah, for sure, I think it was a solid match and I'm happy I'm through to the second round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You talked about it a little bit on the court, but using the coaching box. Does it feel markedly different having them that much closer?

IGA SWIATEK: I think it's much more convenient because, well, we can use the coaching. We don't need to if we don't want to.

But I think these rules with coaching, they were nice for smaller courts, but if you play on a stadium, it's impossible to hear the coach anyway. Now actually it makes more sense, because both if you play on a smaller court you can use it if you play on the stadium, as well. I think now it finally makes sense (smiling).

Yeah, I like it. It's our choice if we want to use it or not. If you have a good communication with your coach, I think it might work.

Q. During the last few months of last year you had to live some fairly unsettling experiences. Sometimes that can lead people to reevaluate who they are and think a lot about themselves. I was wondering if you could tell us what that experience left you and how that made you a different person or a better person?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think just accepting the fact that sometimes you're not going to have control over some stuff in your life, this situation can happen, and then you have to deal with it.

For sure, like, it's a big lesson. It's going to help me in, like, other aspects in my life. So this one was the biggest one, I would say.

Q. Would you mind giving one example of something you might have heard today that was helpful?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, today I knew what mistakes I did. It was more me talking to Wim and being angry about some shots that I didn't make as I wanted to (smiling). Though I don't think I'm supposed to talk, so let's pretend I didn't say that.

Yeah, I mean, today I didn't feel like I needed coaching. I knew what I needed to improve. I just focused on the tips that I gave to myself kind of.

Q. Is there a comfort level or just the idea that if you did need something, they're close?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I think it can be helpful. As I said, we had this rule for a long time now. If you play on a stadium, you couldn't use the coaching anyway. You didn't hear what people were saying to you.

Yeah, now I just feel like they might follow our feedback, the tournament. It makes more sense, for sure.

Q. You found the Australian Open tricky over recent seasons. Have you changed your preparation at all for this one to try and finally get that first title here under your belt?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think overall the preparation is a bit changed because of a different coach. I feel like that was enough of a change. We're obviously, like, working a little bit differently because it's always different when you change coaches.

So yeah. Maybe last years the mistake was for sure not having your own hitting partner. This year I have a hitting partner in my team, on this tournament as well. But honestly, like, I wouldn't say my preparation during last years was really bad. I for sure felt like my level was going down during the tournament, but hard to say why. You're not always going to have answers.

I guess I need to keep my expectations low and just focus on the work and focus on playing better and better if I can, because for sure these are not the easiest surface for me, for example. I just have to keep grinding and fighting for every ball.

Q. Since the start of the 2020 season, you are the only woman to reach the second round at every Grand Slam played.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I know.

Q. A positive direction?

IGA SWIATEK: I think I only lost once in the first round. It was at Wimbledon in 2019. I wish I didn't play so my stat would be perfect (smiling). Yeah, I mean, I'm happy. It shows that I'm consistent. I always kind of take a lot of just... I'm just more confident before a slam, even playing the first match.

I know that no matter what's going to happen, I have kind of this stat. I should just do what I always do and it will be good.

Q. You won your first Grand Slam as a teenager. There is currently one teenager, I think, in the top 100. I think it's only Mirra. Do you think it's getting even harder for young players to make that breakthrough? If so, why might that be?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't know. The only difference I see now comparing to, like, five years ago is that me, Aryna, and some other players on top are pretty consistent. So maybe if you have us on the draw, there's less probability that we're going to flop suddenly in first rounds or something.

I don't know. I don't know. It's hard to say. I didn't even know about this. Yeah, maybe I'll think about it. Hard to say. I don't think it's harder.

I mean, transitioning from juniors to pro is always tricky and tough. I mean, my transition was pretty smooth, so I can't really say a lot about this experience because I think other players have a tougher journey.

I don't know. It's a good question, for sure.

Q. It's more physical now than it was.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure. For sure. For sure it's more physical. I think we take care of ourselves and we work harder in the gym than, I mean, the previous generation, I would say. It's not my opinion. It's more about what I heard on tour from people that I actually have been here like 10 years ago.

But I think tennis overall is evolving and you need to take care of more stuff and need to get better and better if you want to succeed. I think over the years we are progressing a bit at least overall.

Q. How much do you pay attention to see what they are, the statistics after a match, either that you on your own might look at numbers or your coach?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I think mostly the coaches tell me their feedbacks from statistics, because I'm not that kind of person that would go through them and just see how I played. I base my feeling on what I actually remember from the match, the feelings that I had during the match.

Sometimes it might actually be accurate to the statistics. This, combined with my coach's feedback, I think is a perfect mix. Usually they are the one looking at the stats.

Q. Is there a particular number that you maybe will say, I did that, that's why I did well today?

IGA SWIATEK: Probably the first serves in, winnings after first-serve percentage. That's important for me.

Q. It was a little bit unusual to see you at John Cain Arena today with your position at the top of the game. You're most often on center courts at Grand Slams. Three years since you played on that court. We call it the People's Court here. Different atmosphere. What was it like for you today to experience that?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly I don't know, I got used to Polish people coming to my matches. Every year I feel like there's more and more crowd. I really appreciate that. The support is always great.

I didn't know that I haven't played on a smaller court for three years. But I don't mind. Honestly, I love playing here on every stadium. On John Cain I played some amazing matches. I remember with Kontaveit, we played fourth round. That was my first chance to go on to the quarters on hard courts. Also some nice tournaments, nice matches.

Yeah, I don't mind. I like this court. I think the only thing is that the surface might be different on different courts. Next time I'll play on a different court, I need to just feel it and focus on that a little bit more.