THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2021

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/I. Begu

6-1, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You won Wimbledon juniors title. What would it mean to you to win Wimbledon women's singles title one day?

IGA SWIATEK: You know, it would be amazing. It's another Grand Slam, so it's like a dream come true for any of us. Every girl that's playing here wants to win. Yeah, it would be great winning junior title and then women's title.

But I'm not really thinking about it, because I don't want to put any expectation on myself. I'm just, you know, playing step by step, match by match, and not really focusing on what's gonna happen, you know, next week, just next match. I think it's the good attitude towards the whole tournament.

Q. You had a nice exchange with Andy Murray during the French Open on Twitter. I just wonder whether you managed to set up that practice session yet?

IGA SWIATEK: I haven't, actually. You know, I'm trying to take it step by step, so I don't want to bother him during Wimbledon. So maybe we're gonna have a chance to do that later or next tournament, because, you know, it's a Grand Slam. I don't want to, you know, ruin his routines or something.

I know that playing with a girl is totally different, and it's a different practice for men. Yeah, I just don't want to bother him basically (smiling).

But he's, like, a really nice guy. We had, like, few small talks during the tournament. Yeah, he's really, like, down to earth and he's great, yeah.

Q. You're through three matches already, and my question is about your thoughts on your game and your level of confidence having this best showing in the main draw since your junior title.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, you know, I feel like I'm playing better and better every match, and I'm actually getting more confidence because I have been on a grass court for some time now. I'm practicing a lot during my, you know, free days.

Yeah, I just feel the surface much, much better than at the beginning of the tournament, and during tournament in Eastbourne. It's easier to implement all the tactics that I wasn't able to implement when I wasn't feeling comfortable.

It's just, you know, easier to lead for me and to be aggressive on court and stay focused all the time.

Q. Your next match, we don't know the opponent, but we know it will be either Muguruza or Jabeur. You have played each of them once. Would you kindly assess each one separately? If you were to face Garbine, what would be the challenge of that match? And separately about Jabeur.

IGA SWIATEK: Garbine is, like, former champion. She knows how to play here. She's been really solid at the beginning of the season before her injury, and she has shown that she's really consistent. She's the kind of player that can play at the highest level for the whole tournament, so for sure it's gonna be tough.

About Ons, you know, she's tricky, because she has a great touch. She's using that really in a smart way on grass. She can play slices, she can play flat balls, she can play topspins. She has like a wide range of options.

Yeah, they both have, like, big serves. It's gonna be tough. It's fourth round of a Grand Slam, so I'm not expecting an easy match. I just hope it's going to be a good match with good performance. And yeah, that people gonna like it (smiling).

Q. I wonder, how has your game changed on grass maybe over the years? This year at Wimbledon, are you playing the way that you thought you would be playing on grass? I noticed you really haven't been to net a whole lot. You're kind of relying on your serve, obviously, which has been working well. What are your thoughts overall about the way you're playing now and how it's changed over the last couple years on grass?

IGA SWIATEK: You know, it's changing because I just developed as a player. It's hard to compare my previous years on grass, because in 2019 I was, you know, like physically weaker. My game, I also didn't have, like, many options on court, and I didn't actually have idea on how to play on grass. This time it's much, much better, so I just developed overall.

My skills are just better and it's easier to adjust to any surface when you're just a better tennis player. I grew up, so also mentally I can handle all the, you know, challenges.

Well, basically I'm not going to the net because I'm focusing on the approaches. I want to play fast and with good precision, so sometimes there is no need to go to the net, because you're just finishing the ball earlier.

Yeah, of course the serve is like really important part of the game, and I feel like it's been a good week for my serve, for sure.

Q. When you say you didn't know anything about playing on grass in years past, what's the key revelation that you know now? Or is it just a feel for the bounce of the ball and the way the surface plays?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, there isn't anything like specific, but, you know, right now I can actually feel that I can put pressure on opponents. I wasn't able to do that when I was, like, 60 or 80 in the world. You know, I just feel like I'm even starting from the better point and then just I can implement all that stuff that I learned during last few years. You know, it's just a little bit easier.