Iga Swiatek wishes journalist “Good luck” in tense exchange after US Open defeat

NEW YORK—Iga Swiatek’s post-match press conference took an awkward turn following a US Open quarterfinal defeat to Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday.

After losing a rematch of this year's Wimbledon final, the former world No. 1 took visible and visceral umbrage at the suggestion that fatigue played a part in the 6-4, 6-3 scoreline:

Q. Just generally, it's been a lot of tennis the last few weeks: Wimbledon, the American tournaments leading up to this, and now this. How tired are you at the moment?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I don't know. It's not like my matches were exhausting here.

Q. Do you feel like a mental break? I'm not talking about the loss as such.
IGA SWIATEK: Why would you say that?

Q. I just wondered. It's just a lot in a row. Do you look forward to a break?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, talk to people responsible for the schedule. Do you need mental break?

Q. Sorry?
IGA SWIATEK: You look like you need mental break.

Q. I do, yeah.
IGA SWIATEK: Well, then what are you doing here?

Q. Got to get to the end of the tournament.
IGA SWIATEK: Good luck.

Awkward exchange notwithstanding, Swiatek had indeed been on a busy winning streak for most of the summer, collecting her sixth Grand Slam victory at the All England Club and arriving to Flushing Meadows fresh off a WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open.

There was little time to settle in for the No. 2 seed, who immediately transitioned into mixed doubles alongside Casper Ruud, finishing runner-up in the revamped edition of the event before her singles campaign even began.

Once it did, Swiatek dropped just one set en route to a second straight quarterfinal, but was ultimately overwhelmed by Anisimova’s big hitting—particularly off the return.

“I kind of maybe didn't serve the best throughout the whole tournament,” Swiatek said of her serve, “but I think because she returned so well that you could see, you know, the bigger difference. On the other hand, I wasn't practicing it in between matches anyway, so I kind of have to let it go and just focus on next one.”

Unable to overtake Aryna Sabalenka atop the WTA rankings after this tournament, Swiatek will still have opportunities to gain points on the current world No. 1 this fall in Asia and the WTA Finals.