US OPEN

August 28, 2025

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/S. Lamens

6-1, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Iga, welcome. Hard-fought win. Your thoughts.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure it wasn't the easiest match. It got a bit complicated in the second set, but I'm happy that I could reset and start playing better in the third set. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Were you surprised about Suzan Lamens' performance in the second and third set?

IGA SWIATEK: No, I wouldn't say surprised. I know that I kind of let her in after the first set, and she used her chances and she immediately kind of knew what to do with that. So for sure, she deserves the games that she won. I wouldn't say surprised.

But yeah, I think she got her level up a bit in terms of not making so many mistakes, as she did in the first set. I would say not surprised, but she did a good job, you know.

Q. It was for her first match on a big stage like this, Arthur Ashe Stadium. Is it in the end always an advantage for you that you have that experience versus her not being experienced on such a big stage?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I would have to know how she felt, you know, because I also remember playing as a not favorite, you know, and sometimes it can give you extra motivation. You know, you have nothing to lose.

So I guess it depends on the player and how they react.

Q. Random question on footwork. How important is it in your game, and who first impressed on you how important it was to get it right?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's crucial. You know, everything starts there. If you're not going to be in the right position before the shot, you can't play only with your hands, you know. So I always knew it's very important.

I don't know who was the first one to tell me that. I guess it's just part of the game, you kind of know it's important overall, but yeah.

Q. That was the first three-set match you've played since Wimbledon. I'm sure the ideal is to win as quickly as possible, but what, if any, benefits are there to getting that longer match, tap into that muscle memory of winning key points in the third set?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, just being under pressure a bit, figuring it out, problem-solving, it's always something you can take from a match like that. Just maybe playing a bit longer on Ashe also, because the surface, as usual, practice courts are totally different.

Yeah, I'll focus on that (smiling).

Q. What are your thoughts about the next match against Kalinskaya?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure it's gonna be hard. She likes faster surfaces. I haven't watched her here obviously because there's so much going on, but I'll prepare tactically as before any other match and I'll be ready.

Q. How would you describe your respective styles of play?

IGA SWIATEK: My what?

Q. Her style and your style.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, she's a fat hitter and she likes to be proactive and be aggressive from the beginning from the first ball. And that's it.

Q. Unlike a lot of or some other sports, pretty much every tennis match ends with a meeting up at the net and a handshake. Do you ever find yourself wishing that interaction didn't have to happen, or do you like having that be a part of this sports tradition?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, I haven't thought about it, because I got so used to it, like since we were kids we were doing that. So I kind of, I don't know, I didn't notice that there might be a tennis match without a handshake at the end.

No, I think I never had a problem with that. Maybe if I didn't like someone really, really hard, then probably maybe I wouldn't want to shake hands with them, but besides that, no. I think it's good to congratulate someone if you lost, and it's good to also, I don't know, say something if you won but the match was tough or something, yeah.

Q. Sometimes they can get awkward, those post-match...

IGA SWIATEK: I guess it depends on the social skills of the players.

Q. Wonder how you generally find playing at this tournament and in New York. Some players talk about the chaos on that side of things. Wonder how you find it.

IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure it's not going to be the calmest slam and the one that is, like, focused on players that much, because it's more focused on entertainment and the show. So we kind of need to adjust to that and accept that. It's always kind of tougher to be in a bubble here.

But that's just the way it is. That's why slams are different, and some people like it; some people not. So, yeah.

Q. I'd like to ask a real general question here. You have been this international star for a good number of years and in the spotlight. My question is: Do you enjoy being such a star? Does it feel comfortable? Or is it difficult and challenging to you?

IGA SWIATEK: Mostly I enjoy. You know, it depends on the situation. I think I really like, I don't know, the photo shoots, for example, with my sponsors and seeing the effects of that and seeing my face somewhere. You know, I think it's pretty cool, and I always get positive emotions from that.

I also like when people are supporting and are cheering on me, and that's not gonna happen if your name is not big, you know, and you haven't proven already that you can play well and they like your style. I don't know.

But obviously, like, when you want to just grind and be, maybe not hide, but be again in your bubble and just not have too many people watching you but just work, you know, internally and peacefully, it's hard to find that.

So I guess there are ups and downs, like in every situation. And, yeah, that's it.

Q. Ben Shelton was asked about his partnership with On. I just wonder what you get out of the partnership. Why is it a good brand for you?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I think it's a great brand for everybody, because it's an amazing brand overall. I think there's no one that wouldn't like On, because it's just great.

The quality is great. The way they treat us and the whole relationship, how they make it with the player, you know, it's pretty amazing. It's something different, and I never experienced that with other brands.

Also seeing them develop throughout the years. When I signed with On, they were just starting with tennis. They had Roger shoe but no apparel. I feel pretty lucky that I could be a part of that, them growing and becoming such a huge company with so much impact.

Also how, I think, our values are kind of similar, so for me, the fit is perfect. And the people are also super nice. They really take care of us. That's the most important thing, I would say.

Q. Deep in a final set like today, you obviously have a lot of options with your offense and defense, and you played some great defensive points in that set. How do you find the balance, finding the balance between attacking and trying to dominate but also knowing that you can rely on your defensive skills, as well?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, I wouldn't say I need to find a balance. It's just two good things to have. And depending on the situation on the court and how my opponent plays, I can use both.

Yeah, the balancing, I think it's important in terms of when you want to be proactive, not overpowering it, because I think most of the shots that I play, I can play them stronger, but you have to have control, you know.

So I think balancing that is something crucial. And, yeah, I know for sure I can always use my defense, so it's something, yeah, that is helpful.

THE MODERATOR: Last question in English.

Q. Given the situation between the African American tennis players and non-tennis players, not only in your sport but across the board, do you think there is a double standard that you guys are getting treated with across the board in terms of the outcome...

IGA SWIATEK: In every sport?

Q. Yeah, in every sport. Like yesterday when home girl went and told her she was uneducated and arrogant, what does that tell you about this sport in women's sports?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, that's a pretty complicated question. I can't speak about every sport, because I don't have enough knowledge, you know. We're in this environment, we're in the tennis world, we're thinking about tennis mostly.

But, you know, I think obviously the world's changed throughout the years, and I know that there has been some issue yesterday, but honestly, I was so focused, I had early match, so I wasn't really -- I'm not caught up on that. I'm probably going to catch up today.

But you can't really judge from a behavior of one person the whole community.

Q. But do you see --

THE MODERATOR: Andrew, we're done. Thank you. We're done.

Q. Hold on. Let me follow up.

Do you see that there is a double standard when it comes to women's sports in terms of how you reacted or acted...

IGA SWIATEK: How who?

Q. Do you see that there's a double standard when it comes to...

IGA SWIATEK: I can't speak about the whole women's sport. I'm a tennis player. I'm, like, 24. I haven't been playing soccer, I haven't been playing, I don't know, basketball.

I don't know how it is in all women's sports. You have to ask someone experienced. Probably some people that have been working in different sports.