WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 19, 2023

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/I. Swiatek

7-6, 3-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Not the result you wanted today, but a close match, great battle. Talk us through your thoughts.

IGA SWIATEK: It's hard to do that honestly because the match was so long. Overall I'm very happy with these three tournaments that I played: Warsaw, Montreal and here.

For sure there are things that I want to work on. It's always like that when you lose. But overall today I fought till the end. That's something that I should be kind of proud of.

For sure I would want the result to be different. Coco, she's a great player, so I guess this one she deserved it more.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Regarding the matchup, the head-to-head going into it, what was different today?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, from my perspective I would say my tank of fuel is pretty empty. Honestly, I'm not even going to kind of regret a lot because I'm happy that I'm going to have days off now.

Coco, for sure, she played great tennis. I got to check, but I think her first serve was better than most of the matches we played against each other, faster. She played more in, even though she's risking with that speed.

Well, it's hard to say 'cause we also had many ups and downs. I know that I had, like, two moments throughout the match when I lost, like, I don't know, six points with unforced errors suddenly.

So, yeah, I have to watch and see how that really happened because it's not like it's happening a lot, but I thought technically I did everything right. I was kind of surprised that I missed couple of shots. But it happens.

She really played a good match, so... It wasn't easy.

Q. How do you feel about going to New York after having defended a slam successfully?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for now it doesn't because I haven't really been thinking about that. I was just focused on this tournament. I know from my experience already that being a defending champion is not easy. I'm going to kind of take it easy on myself and just try to do everything step by step.

Last year's tournament was also really tough. I could be out in the fourth round if you watched my matches. So I'll just fight and I'll see how it's going to go.

Q. Class, class, class once again signing autographs. That's a great attitude.

IGA SWIATEK: Thanks (smiling). I like questions like that.

Yeah, I'm telling you that I'm not, like, mad after that match. I thought that I can sign. I'm not going to kill with my sight people around me.

They came and watched the match. So, yeah, I could sign a few autographs. No problem for me.

Q. You've played two semifinals and two tight three-set losses in the semifinals. How satisfied are you with the consistency? It seems like it's small details at the US Open that could turn in your favor.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, yeah, it's usually like that. In my career I didn't lose, like, many matches, I don't know, 6-2, 6-3. When I lose, I always fight and I always try my best. Even if I'm playing not the best tennis, I can still play kind of even tennis to my opponents. That's a positive thing.

But for sure, the key is to win. I'll just work on these things that I have in mind because there are things I want to do better at the US Open. Finally actually I'll have time to work on that because this season we didn't really have a lot of time to practice.

Before clay, I was injured. Obviously practicing on grass is a little bit different. Lately my week before Montreal was mostly recovering after Warsaw, so yeah...

Q. You said today your energy tank is almost empty. Next year this tournament will be two weeks tournament, which gives you a day off between the matches. At the same time there will be less time between tournaments. Which one is better for players?

IGA SWIATEK: I have no idea. I've been thinking actually of, like, asking former players, because they have more kind of experience in situations like that.

I know for sure that it's different having a day off during the tournament. You're still thinking about your matches and what to improve. It's not like you can do a lot in terms of practicing, as well, because mostly you're just catching rhythm for one hour because you have to stay fresh for matches.

It is going to be challenging in terms of that. Mentally, we got to kind of, like, all of us, all the players, kind of learn how to rest in those days off even though we're still in a tournament and we still have to go on-site and see all these faces, eat tournament food, blah, blah, blah. So I think it will be tougher.

But for sure these two weeks, when you play well, it's really tough comparing to even... The thing this year in Dubai and Doha, I got two retirements. I think this is what kind of saved me there. Madrid and Rome, Madrid is longer, so I had these days off.

I don't know what's better. We'll see. But I think it's going to be tough for us to play throughout the whole season. I think we will kind of have to choose that we're going to skip one of these tournaments.

Q. Coco being a top-10 player for a while now, being 0-7 against you, have you thought about how much space you occupy in some players' minds? You've been stopping her a lot. Have you thought about for her you were like the ultimate obstacle?

IGA SWIATEK: That I know because they are sometimes honestly saying that in interviews. That's what I kind of have to accept if I'm going to be world No. 1.

At the end we still have to go and play, so it doesn't really matter for me what they think off court. But I'm proud that I put myself in that position to be winning so many matches against some players.

That's all, yeah.

Q. Looking ahead to the US Open, what are you most looking forward to before you walk into that tournament?

IGA SWIATEK: Broadway.

Q. Broadway?

IGA SWIATEK: Yes.

Q. What is your New York routine?

IGA SWIATEK: I don't have routine, honestly. Do you, like, Immersive Theater? So last year we went and it was great. I'm going to go again. I'm not going to tell you which one (smiling).

Besides that, for sure, like, one nice dinner and a lot of practicing. That's going to be the routine.

Were you asking about that or tennis stuff?

Q. I was literally asking about everything but tennis.

IGA SWIATEK: Okay, cool (smiling).

Q. What non-tournament food are you looking forward to?

IGA SWIATEK: Non-tournament food? Well, P. F. Chang's today. I already ordered. We got to hurry, actually.

I don't know. Like maybe a good steak. You have to ask Jules because he's actually kind of making the dinner. But maybe, like, seafood and lobster because this is something good you shouldn't risk eating during the tournament.

Thank you.