Tennis
It's been a long six months away for top-level tennis and Poland's Iga Świątek, for one, is delighted to see it return. We caught up with her in New York prior to the start of the US Open.
The US Open is usually a sure sign that the season is slowly coming to an end – after that there’s just a short trip to Asia, a few remaining games in Europe, WTA Finals, and then you can basically start wrapping Christmas gifts. However, 2020 has taken the road less travelled. The tennis world was turned upside down along with almost everything else and the upcoming tournament in New York, the second Grand Slam since January, comes after a six-month break.
Among the athletes returning to Grand Slam action is Polish star Iga Świątek. We checked in with her ahead of the action to see how she's feeling about getting back out on the court in earnest.
Half a year of waiting, that’s quite a long time. Have you missed tennis?
For sure! I’m already in New York and I have to say that I immediately feel different. Over the summer I’ve played a few exhibition games in Switzerland and the Czech Republic, but that’s not the same. It’s a different level of stress and excitement. Plus it was great to fly again, go somewhere further away, we’re used to it since our whole life is about constant travelling! I’ve missed that quite a bit over the last six months.
You mention 'a different level of stress'. Meaning greater, I assume? How do you cope with that?
The best you can do is to get on the court and do your job, it’s a proven way to relieve the stress. It’s different outside the court, obviously, because I finally feel that serious competition is returning. I did my best to prepare, but only the first few matches will show how it is in practice. I’ll have to get used to playing seriously again.
The best you can do is to get on the court and do your job, it’s a proven way to relieve the stress
Tell us a bit about the organisation of the tournaments in New York. Did the USTA rise to the task in these difficult times?
The organisation is impeccable, up till now everything is working fine and we feel safe. Both tournaments – the postponed Western & Southern Open and the US Open – are held on the same courts at Flushing Meadows. That means that we're staying at one place for four weeks. We are kept in a 'bubble', the whole tennis community – athletes, coaches and staff – live in closed hotels, from where we can only go to the courts and back. The hotels are rented out exclusively to the American federation, the USTA. The courts were specially prepared to ensure that the athletes maintain the right distance – the gaps between the tables in the canteen are way over two metres.
Besides that, there’s absolutely no audience in the venue, which also changes the perspective – crowded squares are empty, we have more options to sit down and rest for a moment. We're impressed that it was even possible to organise everything so well for this many people.
Won’t you be dying of boredom at the hotel for four weeks?
The organisers have taken care of that as well. There’s an extensive rest and entertainment zone – with ping pong tables and arcade games, there’s even a virtual golf course. You can get lost there for an hour and won't even notice. Another convenience is an athletic recovery centre, usually available only at courts, but now moved to the hotel. We have everything at our disposal.
How many people did you take to the US Open?
I was able to take my whole team, including my coach [Piotr Sierzputowski], sport psychologist [Daria Abramowicz] and physical preparation coach [Maciej Ryszczuk]. The limit for each person was three people. That’s exactly the same team I’d normally take to a Grand Slam, so I’m in a comfortable situation. Regulations at the courts are stricter – only the main coach can access the changing rooms and athletes’ lounge. The remaining team members must stay further away.
In Prague, you defeated third-ranked Karolina Plíšková from the Czech Republic, who'll be top-seeded at the US Open. Can a win like that, even in an exhibition, provide a boost of confidence and an important lesson?
For me, it was mainly a confirmation that I'd worked hard over the preparation period. I was efficient on the court, I achieved my goal. It felt like a high-stake game and a good warm-up before returning to the Grand Slams. But let’s not forget that preparation matches don't reveal everything – for example, we don't know what stage of her preparations for the season Karolina was at.
During one of the other matches in Prague – against Denisa Hindova – you played so well that the internet couldn’t stop buzzing about it. Have you really spent two years practising the fake smash trick shot?
More or less (laughs). Coach Piotr gives me a lot of freedom during training sessions, so we practise different 'trick' shots. Partially for fun and partially to add variety to the training. It was time to finally present something from that repertoire, but this is not my last word! I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Make sure to follow my matches (laughs).
As many as seven players from the WTA Top 10 will be missing from the US Open. Do you consider it your chance for a good result?
It sure is a chance for the younger underdogs, who so far have just been lurking behind the top-ranked players, but it doesn't change anything for me. I’m 100 percent committed at every tournament and fully focused on every game. We’ll see where that gets me.
The US Open is a Grand Slam on a hard concrete surface and in theory that’s not your favourite scenario…
I’ve spent the whole preparation period on hard courts. I feel ready. I can't analyse my own tennis in terms of surface, because on the court I play against my opponent and not the surface. Each opponent is different and has a different style. If there’s one characteristic for the hard court it's 'chasing' a ball and playing at high speed.
This Grand Slam will be different from all the previous ones for many reasons, but one of them will be especially noticeable – the lack of audience and cheering. Will that help or bother you?
Empty courts will definitely help us concentrate, as in normal conditions a Grand Slam can be constant chaos. We lose quite a lot of energy even before we enter the court. On the other hand, there’s no denying that I’m the type of player who feeds off the energy of the crowd. But no worries, I can play with empty stands as well. Not that long ago I was still playing at junior tournaments, where no one watches the games.
OK, last question – what’s on your playlist recently? Still Jimi Hendrix?
For now, yes (laughs). I haven’t discovered anything new in America yet. But there’s still time, so we’ll see, maybe I’ll come across something catchy. I’ll let you know!
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