Press Conference:
THE MODERATOR: Not the result you wanted today. Can you just talk about what happened out there.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, for sure, Elena played great tennis today, and I feel like against her I have to play better. She was playing really well.
I’m pretty sad that I lost, but on the other hand, overall, it’s a pretty good tournament for me.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Can you explain maybe in a little bit more detail what you think Elena did well.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don’t know if it’s like, honestly — I feel like it’s still more me and kind of my mistakes. I’m also like not feeling 100% physically. I have a little like discomfort in my rib, and we’re going to consult with medical team. For sure I’m gonna use these days off before Miami, so actually I have one more day.
Q. On that issue, the physical issue, has that been with you for quite a few days now? What sort of discomfort is it? Did you at all think back to the Australian Open match that you all played?
IGA SWIATEK: We were thinking about the Australian Open more like we wanted to kind of learn a lesson from that match. We were, you know, just analyzing, but mainly my coach did that, so I wanted just to kind of use his tips and improve my game. But I wasn’t able to do that today.
In terms of the rib, you know, we’ll see, because I still have to run some tests and see what’s going on. I don’t know yet.
Q. Was the injury you speak of affecting you as you played, or was it more mentally on your mind?
IGA SWIATEK: It’s hard to say. Honestly, I haven’t played with a lot of injuries. It’s a new situation for me, for sure. Last time I played with an injury, like the only tournament I can remember is like Roland Garros 2019 (smiling). So I was pretty young.
For sure, you know, now it’s a totally different level. So I feel like going on that matches you have to be 100% fit.
Q. On the same topic, since you realized you had the injury, have you spent extra time working with it, and has it helped at all, or has it really stayed the same or gotten worse?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, you know, I have been playing, so there has been some fatigue all the time. I would say it’s kind of constant, but I’m pretty sure that tomorrow or day after will help in recovery.
Q. I don’t mean to go over yesterday, but was that part of maybe the reason for the lengthy time, that you were trying to get this treated and see hopefully it was going to be feeling a bit better?
IGA SWIATEK: Yeah. Honestly, yeah. I had to — yeah, yeah, it was.
Q. Do you think there’s a chance you might not play Miami?
IGA SWIATEK: No, like for now I’m preparing to play, but we’ll see what next days are going to tell us. I don’t know yet.
Q. Feeling ill when you’re traveling is always terrible. What do you do for comfort and mentally to make yourself feel better and rest when you’re on the road?
IGA SWIATEK: Oh, that’s a nicer question (smiling). Like most of the time I read.
Actually, I didn’t have to like come up with many ideas on this tournament, because, like, the tournament made it really special for me. We really stayed in a nice place.
They even bought ukulele for us (smiling). It was really fun. I did like two sets of Legos. I wanted to really keep my mind busy and not think about tennis. Yeah, so it’s different stuff.
But for sure I feel like on the road sometimes it’s easier to rest than when you’re at home, because also, you know, when I’m at home, like most of my free time I’m spending sometimes, you know, working on the other part of my career, you know, like business-wise. Actually, this time, like before the tournaments, it’s like a chill time with some quality practices. I really like it.
Q. Do you think it’s a big challenge for you to play against player who is very strong?
IGA SWIATEK: That is very strong?
Q. Who hit the ball very strong, Sabalenka, Rybakina.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don’t know honestly, because I also won many matches against Aryna and I played against Elena, you know, two years ago and it was fine.
So it’s hard for me to like take everything under consideration and decide if it’s hard or not. I would say that I can still improve as a player, and there are some like things I want to focus on.
But still, I feel like I can play great tennis even, you know, against players who are serving pretty fast and everything.
But for sure, you know, last couple of matches against Elena, they weren’t perfect for me, but I will try to do better next time.
Q. Just going back on what you were just saying, did you say you were making Lego kits?
IGA SWIATEK: Lego sets, yeah.
Q. Did you say you were doing Lego?
IGA SWIATEK: Yeah.
Q. So when you make up these pieces, what do you do? Just leave them at the tournament or…
IGA SWIATEK: No, I actually travel with them, and they break during the flight usually, so I have to do them again at home. That’s the process.
Q. When you just said the business life, the other part of your career, just expand on that and explain some of that activity and what you’re doing.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I have pretty big team in Poland. IMG joined this team last year, so, you know, I’m kind of reaching out to them and asking, you know, for any updates. They are obviously like talking all the time and doing that for me, which is nice, because I wouldn’t… they’re talking about money.
But I feel like there are many things honestly, because yeah, I want to kind of expand my work in Poland and also do some nice stuff. Obviously kind of I am still figuring out about some international things that I want to do. I want to kind of combine that and put it together, and I feel like we created a really nice team.
I didn’t know, you know, a couple years ago if it’s gonna be possible for me to have, like, both teams working together, because, you know, it’s tough in terms of communication and everything, but they made a great effort, both IMG and my team in Poland. So I’m pretty happy with the results.
But yeah, usually I’m just there, I’m just talking with them and also sometimes there are like some decisions to make and I have to do that. I don’t want to focus on that during the tournament, so time off, it’s good for that.
bnpparibasopen.com
She has been lucky thus far the last few years not getting any injuries so I suppose it was bound to catch up with her at some point.
Really hope whatever the rib issue is it's not too serious or long term.
Not taking away anything from Rybakina's performance, but we've all seen how badly rib issues can effect a player Rafa at last year's Indian Wells comes to mind.
And this wasn't the Iga we normally see. The fact she didn't take a comfort break at the end of the first set should have been the tip off.
I think she just knew she wasn't going to be able to hang with Rybakina physically not being a 100 percent.
All that said I do think that both Rybakina and Krejcikova are so far the only 2 players who have gotten into Iga's head a bit and they are able to cause her to panic and not feel as free when hitting her shots.
I have no doubt though that Iga will find a way to over come it. Provided she stays healthy.
Still have to look at the positives despite having a nasty cold since Dubai and not feeling a 100 she still managed a final and 2 back to back semis.
Here's to a speedy recovery Iga, rest up!.
See you in Miami (hopefully).
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