US OPEN

August 31, 2026

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/W. Xiyu

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Iga, congratulations. If you would, assess your level of play today, straight-set win.

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, I think it was a really good match, a good first round with a good opponent. So I'm happy that I was more solid and intense from the beginning. I felt the ball well, so happy with the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You played really well this last period. You'd been struggling a bit before that earlier in the year. Can you explain what changed a little this last period?

IGA SWIATEK: I just feel like my work clicked. All these things that I needed to do with Francis, we were doing it from the beginning, but I feel like it's more natural now to not -- yeah, I don't need to think about it. It became more automatic.

So my game is a bit more calm, and I'm more patient, but I think I'm making better decisions on the court. So I'm happy that -- yeah, I'm happy that this work paid off, and it's getting the results now.

Q. They say if you want to be successful here, you have to win twice. Once here against your opponents and secondly against the big city itself, against New York. You know what I mean? How do you handle it? What kind of relationship do you have to New York? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Maybe you already have found a little secret space where you can get away and recharge your batteries?

IGA SWIATEK: No secret space. I think New York might have not -- I mean, it's so crowded that there might not be any secret spaces, but I like my hotel overall. So just staying there, it's a pleasure.

Especially it would be nice to, yeah, get out to some places that maybe are less crowded, but it's hard in New York, but I'm enjoying it anyway. There's good food, you know, different atmosphere.

So I'm trying to find positives out of it. But for sure, the city can be a lot, so I'm trying to keep my focus and be in my own bubble.

Q. How do you stay focused?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, as always, you know, it's not the first time, but I tried to have some fun because -- before the tournament started, so I feel pretty fresh, and I feel like I have space in my head to, yeah, stay in my own bubble.

I read books. I do LEGOs. I'm trying to get out to some nature, but it's not easy because not too much nature here.

Overall, I have my space that I feel comfortable in, and that's it.

Q. You're 30-1 now in Grand Slam first-round matches, 28 of those wins being in straight sets. What would you say is the key to your early-round dominance?

IGA SWIATEK: I think I don't treat these matches like they should be easy. You know, I don't take them for granted. I'm always ready from the beginning to put the intensity, and I'm ready with the level, so yeah.

Q. I'm just curious, how would you assess just the conditions here tonight in New York playing compared to maybe in Toronto or Cincinnati?

IGA SWIATEK: That's a tough question because, on one hand, theoretically, it shouldn't be so different, but on the other hand, I feel like the surface is a bit more fast, maybe less bouncing.

Q. Like compared to maybe last year?

IGA SWIATEK: I think it's the same.

Q. You mean compared to Toronto and Cincinnati?

IGA SWIATEK: Compared to Toronto and Cincinnati or last year?

Q. Sorry, my bad. You said, like, more fast, right?

IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, than Toronto and Cincinnati. A bit more fast, especially on the practice courts. The stadiums are a bit more slow, but it's the case every year.

Maybe during the day it's less humid, but actually today it kind of was, because it was quite raining.