Paris: Iga Swiatek basked in the glory of her latest French Open conquest, characterizing it as a poignant victory while expressing pride in her ability to navigate the weight of expectation as the favorite for a third consecutive Parisian clay crown.
The world number one showcased her dominance by swiftly dispatching Italian underdog Jasmine Paolini in a straight-sets triumph of 6-2, 6-1, securing her fifth Grand Slam title and fourth at Roland Garros. However, Swiatek acknowledged that her innate perfectionism added an extra layer of challenge to her quest for excellence.
“I’m a perfectionist, so there’s always pressure on me. I’m fine handling my own pressure. When outside pressure hits me, it is a little bit worse. But I managed it really well at this tournament,” Swiatek revealed to reporters, offering insight into the mental fortitude required to thrive under the spotlight.
Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of the tournament, Swiatek admitted, “It was an emotional win because I felt a lot of stress yesterday and today in the morning. And I knew if I’m going to just focus on tennis I can kind of fight through it, and at the end it all went how I wanted. So I just felt really proud of myself.”
Dubbed the “queen of clay” for her remarkable prowess on the surface, Swiatek encountered a minor setback in the second round against Naomi Osaka, where she had to stage a remarkable comeback, saving a match point. Undeterred, she blazed through the competition, exemplified by her ruthless 40-minute dismantling of Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round with a resounding 6-0, 6-0 victory.
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The 23-year-old Pole, who had previously clinched the Roland Garros title in 2020, acknowledged the dual nature of perfectionism. “When I do anything, I want to do it 100%. I think when you’re a perfectionist, you are a perfectionist everywhere,” she mused, recognizing its role both as a catalyst for improvement and a potential burden.
Looking ahead to the transition to the grasscourt season and the imminent Wimbledon tournament, Swiatek expressed optimism about adapting swiftly to the change in surface, drawing confidence from her quarter-final appearance last year. “Last year’s result was pretty nice. I feel like every year it’s easier for me to adapt to grass,” she remarked, underscoring the evolving nature of her game.
Acknowledging the challenge posed by the shift in surface preference, Swiatek emphasized her enduring love for clay while remaining determined to excel on grass courts. “But it’s a huge challenge. If I would lose here earlier, maybe I would be able to play two more weeks on grass and then be a better grass player. But if I would choose, I love playing on clay, so I’m not going to give up that ever.”
