"I didn’t believe I could win" - Iga Swiatek on her grand escape after being in "huge trouble" against Naomi Osaka at French Open
Iga Swiatek recently talked about her dramatic comeback after facing a tough challenge from Naomi Osaka in the second round of the 2024 French Open. Swiatek is aiming to secure her fourth title at the clay court Major.
Top seed, Swiatek is the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros. She defeated Osaka 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 in two hours and 57 minutes to move to the third round of the clay court Major.
This win marked the Pole's 16th consecutive match victory at the French Open and her 14th straight win this year. She will be trying to become the third woman in the Open Era to secure three consecutive French Open titles, joining the ranks of Monica Seles (1990-92) and Justine Henin (2005-07).
Iga Swiatek's match against Naomi Osaka was a nail-biter, with both players evenly splitting the first two sets between them. During the third set, the Japanese had a lead of 5-3 and was serving for the match, which put Swiatek under immense pressure. However, the World No.1 staged a remarkable comeback, winning the remaining points to clinch the set and ultimately the match.
During the post-match press conference, Iga Swiatek described the encounter with Osaka as "intense" and of high quality. She said that she felt satisfied with her performance as she did not give up when trailing during the third set.
“Well, it’s hard to have any logical thoughts because, for sure, it was really intense and on a really high level. I was in huge trouble in the third set, but I somehow managed to win this match, which is kind of abstract. But I’m glad I didn’t give up,” Swiatek said.
The Pole also admitted to initially doubting her ability to win the match. She acknowledged that her focus was not at its peak during the first two sets but credited the pressure of the match for helping her regain her concentration and secure the victory.
“I honestly didn’t believe that I could win because that would be pretty naive. But that didn’t change the fact that I just tried to work hard to play better. I actually managed to be more focused at the end of the match, which went pretty badly. In the first and second sets, I felt like I was not completely in the zone. And when I was under the biggest pressure, I was actually able to switch that, and maybe that made the difference,” she added.
Reflecting on the tight match, Iga Swiatek said that her determination and resilience pushed her through to claim the win.
“But honestly, when it's so tight, it's just, I don’t know, it’s not like I have influence over everything. But for sure, if I didn’t give up, I just increased my chances, and I tried to just play better as I would if I were practicing, or if I were, be I don’t know 4–5 and not 2–5, so yeah,” Iga Swiatek said.
Iga Swiatek: "Naomi Osaka's shots were really clean & really heavy, she improved her game"
Following her win over Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek remarked that it must be hard for the former World No.1, who became a mother last year, to balance motherhood and her professional tennis career.
“Honestly, I just think about the journey that she had. She’s a mother, and I guess, I have never been in that situation. It must be hard to combine these two things and come back after maternity leave,” Swiatek said [via WTATour.com].
Swiatek commended Osaka for her resilience in making a successful comeback and praised the Japanese tennis star for her improved gameplay, noting that her shots were "clean" and "heavy".
“She played amazing today. I have big respect for her coming back . Her shots were really clean and really heavy. For sure, I think she improved her game. I’m happy that she’s back – but maybe we can play not three sets next time,” she added.
Looking ahead, Iga Swiatek will go up against either Marie Bouzkova or lucky loser Jana Fett in the third round of the 2024 French Open.