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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 03 July 2024

'Perfectionist' Iga Swiatek describes her French Open triumph as an emotional win

World No. 1 said she was proud to have handled the pressure of being favourite to win a third consecutive title on the Parisian clay

Reuters Paris Published 10.06.24, 10:54 AM
Iga Swiatek with her trophy on Saturday, after winning the French Open women’s singles title at Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek with her trophy on Saturday, after winning the French Open women’s singles title at Roland Garros Getty Images

Iga Swiatek described her French Open triumph on Saturday as an emotional win and said she was proud to have handled the pressure of being the favourite to win a third consecutive title on the Parisian clay.

World No. 1 Swiatek steamrolled Italian surprise finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-1 to claim her fifth grand slam title, and her fourth at Roland Garros, but said that being a perfectionist meant there had been an added challenge.

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“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 told.

“It was an emotional victory because I felt a lot of stress. 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 by fans and pundits for her dominance on the surface, Swiatek dropped one set throughout the tournament, in a second-round epic with Naomi Osaka where she had to save a match point.

She shrugged that off and blew away all comers, showing her might by putting Anastasia Potapova to the sword in the fourth round with a 40-minute 6-0, 6-0 victory.

The 23-year-old Pole, who also won the Roland Garros title in 2020, said she was fully aware that perfectionism was a double-edged sword.

“When I do anything, I want to do it 100 per cent.

“I think when you’re a perfectionist, you are a perfectionist everywhere,” Swiatek said.

“But this is a tricky thing because it helps you to be better but sometimes it can be huge baggage as well.”

Looking ahead to the grasscourt season and next month’s Wimbledon, Swiatek said she hoped to adapt quickly to the change of surface, like she did last year when she made the quarter finals.

“Last year’s result was pretty nice. I feel like every year it’s easier for me to adapt to grass,” Swiatek said.

“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.”

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