French Open women’s champion Iga Swiatek said she was “overwhelmed” after finding out Poland and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was in attendance to witness her claim a second grand slam title on the Parisian clay.
Following her 6-1, 6-3 win over American teenager Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final, Swiatek got a handshake and a quick hug from her compatriot after going up to the stands to celebrate with her team.
“I didn’t know (Lewandowski was in the stands), and I’m happy about that, because I would get so stressed,” Swiatek told reporters.
“Well, I’m happy that he’s here, honestly. I don’t know if he’s like a huge tennis fan or not. But, yeah, I mean, wow.
“He’s been a top athlete in our country for so many years that it still feels hard to believe that he came to watch me. I hope he liked it. I hope he’s going to come back. Yeah, I don’t know. Just overwhelmed.”
Swiatek, who dropped just one set in the entire tournament, had earlier teared up when hearing the Polish national anthem following her win. She said she felt lucky when she won her first French Open title in 2020 but the world No.1 credits hard work for her second grand slam title on the Parisian clay.
Swiatek went from being a largely unknown 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, to instant celebrity status after lifting her first Suzanne Lenglen Cup 18 months ago. But she arrived in Paris last month as the overwhelming favourite, having won all five tournaments she had played before the claycourt major.
“I think in 2020 the main thing that I felt was confusion, because I have never really believed 100 per cent that I can actually win a grand slam,” the Pole, who turned 21 last week, told reporters.
“This time it was, pure work. Just with everything that was going on, I’m also like more aware of how it is to win a grand slam... With that awareness, I was even more happy and even more proud of myself, because in 2020 ... I just felt that I’m lucky. This time I felt like I really did the work.”
‘Something special’
Swiatek did not drop a set during her 2020 triumph and lost just one during this year’s Roland Garros campaign, extending her winning run to 35 matches. That took her past Serena Williams’ winning streak of 34 matches while she equalled Venus Williams with Saturday’s win.
“It may seem pretty weird, but having that 35th win and kind of doing something more than Serena did, it’s something special,” Swiatek added.
“Obviously winning a grand slam too, but this one was pretty special because I felt like I’ve done something that nobody has ever done, and maybe it’s gonna be even more. Yeah, this one was special.”
Swiatek has now won both her majors on clay and having already proved earlier in the season that she has the game to dominate on hardcourts, she will turn her attention to grass — a surface on which she has not had much success — with Wimbledon starting from June 27.
“My coach (Tomasz Wiktorowski) believes I can win more matches on grass. I don’t know about that yet,” she said with a smile. “I actually like the part that I have no expectations there. It’s something kind of refreshing.
“I’m going to just prepare my best. And maybe with the experiences he had with (Poland’s former world No. 2) Agnieszka Radwanska, it was her favourite surface, he’s going to give me some tips that are actually going to be really helpful.”
