OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 10, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/K. Muchova

6-1, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: We'll go straight to questions.

Q. At what time did you get here for your 12:30 start, and can you take us through your day and what you did in between the action?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I mostly read a book, and there's a quiet room here, so I stayed there. But for sure it wasn't easy to kind of get the energy level up and relax to save energy.

I wasn't sure if we were actually going to play, but the tournament was pretty confident that the rain is going to stop. So I just tried to save energy, and yeah, it worked.

Q. At what time did you get here?

IGA SWIATEK: 9:30 or something.

Q. Can you just talk through the match a little bit in terms of just what you think was the difference in the end and kind of the struggle a little bit to find your rhythm and find your range throughout the match?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure I hit ups and downs, and I felt that. I did some mistakes in the second set that are kind of -- you can do that if you want to win matches at that stage.

So for sure Karolina is the kind of player who is using these chances and situations, and she also put pressure in these moments, but I wanted to kind of reset and go into the third set with new energy and move a little bit better.

Yeah, I think that was -- I don't know honestly what was the main difference, but I just tried to be more proactive, I guess.

Q. I suppose that you were mad about yourself after losing the second set knowing after all that you took your time because of the rain, but how were you able to regroup after that second set?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I knew that I don't have to change a lot. It's just about the kind of vibe and momentum, you know.

So I know that I have my game with me because I really won this first set with big confidence. So I just kind of reminded myself my key tactics and what I should do to win against Karolina, and that's all.

It wasn't really -- I didn't want to overanalyze.

Q. What was in your opinion the most difficult thing for you today to manage your game and to stay concentrated?

IGA SWIATEK: I think, yeah, what I said at the beginning, like getting the adrenaline up. I'm still a little bit jet-lagged, so for sure being concentrated again, you know, after such a long day.

But, on the other hand, sometimes when the conditions are more tricky, sometimes it's easier because you just kind of go all in, and you don't think about other stuff.

Q. There's a chance you face Leylah Fernandez at the next round. You faced her twice. What do you know of her as a player, and what do you expect if you are to face her?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, she's really talented, and we also practiced a couple of times. She can really play her forehand really, really fast.

You know, you wouldn't kind of expect that when you look at her, but she's doing that, and she's hitting the ball pretty early. Yeah, she's kind of trying to be proactive and put pressure on the opponent.

But, yeah, mainly I'll just focus on myself. I played with so many different players this season that it kind of doesn't matter for me.

For sure I'll have my tactics, but I have to focus on myself and what I want to do on court.

Q. I have to ask then, what were you reading during the rain delay?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, that's, again, the time when I don't know the English title. Give me one sec. I started it yesterday. Wait. In English. "Cry of the Kalahari."