(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Coach Tomasz Wiktorowski claimed Iga Swiatek didn’t know if she would be able to play the French Open until “the very last moment.” During her Rome quarterfinal against Elena Rybakina – which was played just 10 days before the start of the French Open – Swiatek suffered a right thigh injury and retired the match.
On Saturday, Swiatek defeated Karolina Muchova 6-2 5-7 6-4 in the French Open final for her fourth Grand Slam title. “Iga felt more pressure than last year. It was a huge match, the final of a Grand Slam. Being here back-to-back means something, but also, you demand more from yourself.
She has passed through all the tough moments this year. She was injured badly in Indian Wells and then skipped Miami. Then after Rome (where she injured her thigh), we were unsure if she would be able to play at the French Open until the very last moment.
This is why this was the most difficult match for me since I became her coach,” Wiktorowski told Eurosport.
Coach Wiktorowski, Swiatek react to the French Open win
Swiatek, who turned 22 on May 31st, now has three French Open titles in her collection.
Also, this was the first time that Swiatek defended a Grand Slam title. After winning her fourth Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open, Swiatek admitted this was a challenging campaign. “This one, for sure, it was a little bit tougher in terms of injuries and the pressure, and also coming back to this tournament as a defending champion.
I’m happy that I finished the whole clay court swing so well and that I kind of survived. I guess I’m never going to doubt my strength again,” Swiatek said. In the summer, Swiatek will try to win her first Wimbledon title. It will be interesting to see if this is the year Swiatek also does extremely well on grass.
