“This is serious for us, we’re fighting our whole lives,” Iga Swiatek confronts French Open crowd for screaming during rallies

Swiatek was pretty direct with the French crowd about how she felt with the 'ill-timed' cheerings.

“This is serious for us, we’re fighting our whole lives,” Iga Swiatek confronts French Open crowd for screaming during rallies

Iga Swiatek reacts during her match against Naomi Osaka (Via Imago)

World No.1 Iga Swiatek made a memorable comeback to edge Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5 in a Roland Garros classic on Wednesday. The Pole won her 14th consecutive match on the tour and remains on course for a three-peat at the clay slam.

However, it wasn’t just Osaka who challenged her focus throughout the match; the crowd also played a role. In her post-match interview, the current World No.1 urged the French crowd to remain silent during the rallies.

YouTube video
I have huge respect for you guys and I know we’re playing for you but sometimes under a lot of pressure when you scream something during the rally it’s really hard to be focused. I usually don’t bring this up because I want to be a player that’s in the zone and focused. But this is serious for us. We’re fighting our whole lives to be better and better.
Iga Swiatek addressed the crowd in her post-match interview

Another challenge presented to Swiatek was the rain. This match was played under the roof after the action on the outdoor courts was suspended because of showers. Despite the challenges from the rain, the crowd, and Osaka, the World No.1 will be delighted to have come through this marathon.

FS Video
Sometimes it’s hard to accept that. The stakes are big. There’s a lot of money to win. Losing a few points may change a lot. Please guys if you can support us between the rallies but not during, that would be great. I hope you’re still gonna like me because I know French crowd might get some players they don’t like and boo. But I love you guys and always love playing here, so let’s continue that.
Iga Swiatek added

Swiatek remains on course to win three consecutive French Open titles. She would become only the third women’s player in the Open era ever to do so, following in the footsteps of Monica Seles (1990-1992) and Justine Henin (2005-2007).

How does Iga Swiatek’s Roland Garros draw look after the second round?

Naomi Osaka is one of many potential challenges Iga Swiatek faces following the announcement of her Roland Garros draw. If her first test was this difficult, tennis fans can only imagine what is to come in the later rounds.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek in action (via Imago)

Swiatek is now projected to play either Jana Fett or Marie Bouzkova in the third round. The Czech player had won the first set 6-2 and was leading by a game in the second set before rain interrupted play. The duo will complete the match tomorrow. Bouzkova had taken out the 29th seed, Veronika Kudermetova, in the first round.

In the fourth round, the defending champion was projected to play the 24th seed from the Czech Republic, Barbora Krejcikova. However, Krejcikova lost in the first round to unseeded Swiss player Viktorija Golubic 7-6, 6-4. This is a massive boost for Swiatek because she and Krejcikova have split their head-to-head meetings.

Swiatek is projected to play Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals, but Vondrousova is having troubles of her own in the second round of Roland Garros against Katie Volynets. She lost the first set 6-0, but she is staging a comeback in the second set, leading 4-0. Their match will also be completed the following day.

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