BNP PARIBAS OPEN

March 5, 2025

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Iga, welcome back to Indian Wells.

IGA SWIATEK: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: You had a great run last year. Your thoughts on being back.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure, I'm happy to be back. It's a place I really love to be. So, yeah, I'm excited for the tournament. I've been working for the past week to get used to the conditions and the courts.

Yeah, it's been going pretty well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You have won two of three titles here. You could be the first to win three. What is it about Indian Wells that brings out your best?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I don't know, it's hard to say. Probably the surface is pretty slow, the ball is bouncing high. It gives me a little bit of an advantage. But on the other hand the conditions are tricky still with the really dry air.

So I wouldn't say it's so easy to play here, because it's not. Every match can be super tough. I just, I don't know, I'm trying to be solid on every tournament, so if you are consistent, you know you're going to get more chances to win titles at the end.

But it's not like, you know, it's so easy, you know, so...

Q. When did you get here? What have you been working on?

IGA SWIATEK: We got here on Friday, and, you know, I wanted to come here earlier to have, like, a full week of, you know, practice, before actually, you know, even focusing on a tournament. It was more for me and my game and me developing as a player.

It was nice, because here you can really practice in a peaceful way and with no other distractions. I really enjoyed this.

Q. Have you tried the new surfaces? What do you think? Is it faster?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I don't feel much difference. We come here after a year anyway, after a year of playing on different surfaces. Everybody says it's a bit different, but I don't know if -- it's actually in the back of our heads because everybody is talking about it.

But honestly, I don't really mind. We need to get used to the conditions anyway every week, so we're kind of used to it. I try not to overthink it and just go out and play.

Q. This is the second year that you're coming in after the two mandatory tournaments in February and after one year of more longer Masters 1000. Is there a way that you, as players, can actually get used to this different rhythm of more mandatory tournaments and longer time on the road?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I think I already got used to it, also because the slams were always long, so you always get a one day off.

Honestly, well, for sure, it's hard at the end of the year, because you feel like you've been on tour for a long time. The tournaments are long. So if you're gonna play till the end, you don't have much time to go back home or to even have two proper days off, you know.

But on the other hand, there are also advantages. You can use this day off for a nice practice, and if you feel like your technique when you're playing matches is going down a bit, you can really remind yourself on these practices on what to focus on and what to work on.

I try to look at the positive side of this, as we don't have much influence on the scheduling. I'll take as much from it as possible.

Q. Staying with that question on the scheduling, here and then Miami and then you get into your clay schedule, which is always very busy for you, are there any adjustments you can make either in terms of how much you would play some of those tournaments, or also, what you've learned in terms of how to manage the time within those tournaments? I think it was last year and sort of the middle of the clay season, you all of a sudden, you were starting to feel it.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't remember how it was last year. I know that every, like, swing is different. For example, I don't know, like, one year or two years ago in Middle East, I also got, like, two walkovers. This year I didn't.

The tournaments can be, there's no way to compare one year to the other, because that story can be totally different. For sure this part of the season is really tough. And I, for sure, don't want to miss any clay court tournaments. And Indian Wells, Miami, as well, I love these tournaments, and I already proved myself that physically I can handle it.

You know, also, it's going to be different if you're going to start these tournaments, I don't know, three-setters or two matches, 6-2, 6-2, you know. So, yeah, I mean, we'll see. There is no point to overthink that. My plan is to play everything.

So, yeah, I'll just go with it step by step, week by week, and we'll think about it during. I mean, it's more coach's job to plan it before in a way that I can start the swing with enough amount of freshness and recovering.

Q. Gambling has become a very big part of this sport and a lot of money is coming in from betting sites. Is gambling good for the sport or bad for the sport or both?

IGA SWIATEK: Oh, I don't think I'm ready to answer that question because I never really thought about that much, because I always thought that this is how it is. There's no point to think if it's good or bad, because it's always going to be there since it's big business.

I think, for sure, the thing that we as players feel is the negative comments and hate, because people are sometimes losing money because we lose or because we win. So, this is what impacts us. For sure I feel like it's not positive, and not good at all.

But, you know, hate is going to be out there on the Internet anyway. There are ways to stop it with like algorithms and the apps that are blocking it a little bit.

But, you know, people put out on the Internet whatever they want, because it's easy, you know. So this is the part I would say that hits us. But the whole concept of gambling and business, you know, behind it, I'm not really that well-oriented to really say. Sorry.

Q. I know you've won a lot of matches since the French Open last year but not actually won a title, which is unusual for you. Is that concerning? Does it feel strange to you? Is it unsettling at all?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, you know, I also couldn't play all of the tournaments (smiling). I accept how my situation looks like, and for sure I work hard to improve and to have chances to win tournaments.

But, you know, my year after Roland Garros wasn't so easy and smooth as usual. I'm not, you know, judging myself and no one should. (Laughter.)

Q. You got that incredible reception at the Golden State Warriors game a little while ago. What did that feel like? What do you think of the athleticism of pro basketball players? And then finally, talk about Steph Curry and his balance, rhythms, quick release, whatever comes to mind?

IGA SWIATEK: I loved watching this game. I was super grateful for the reception, because, I don't know, I wasn't really expecting that. It was amazing and I really appreciate that.

But watching the match, I mean, it was more like a 6-Love, 6-Love match kind of (smiling). So it wasn't really super exciting till the end. They were winning it pretty easily. But still, you know, watching Steph live was amazing, and, for sure, you can see the skills straightaway.

I also thought about, you know, how it is for him when everybody just expects from him to have these three-point shots. I really, really respect, you know, how he manages that.

Also the physicality of the players, I mean, with their height, for sure, they need to work hard to be quick and everything.

So yeah, I really enjoyed that. It's nice to also see other sports sometimes to catch a little bit of perspective and compare a little bit how it is, you know.

Yeah, I mean, every time I have a chance I go see some other sports. I haven't had a chance to be in a football match yet or NHL, but I'll try (smiling).

Q. Seen any skiing?

IGA SWIATEK: Skiing? No, I mean, with these two-week tournaments, it's hard (smiling).