“Losing a set is a new thing for me” Iga Swiatek advances into the 2022 Australian Open semi-finals unbothered after a fierce battle with Kaia Kanepi
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Iga Swiatek
World No. 9 and the 7th seed at the 2022 Australian Open, Iga Swiatek reaches her first-ever semi-final at Melbourne Park as she defeats Kaia Kanepi in a fierce 3-set battle on the Rod Laver Arena. Swiatek won the marathon match 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in 3 hours and 1 minute to enter the semi-finals of the Slam.
In a match where Iga recorded her highest-ever tally of double faults as she made 12, the two players were separated only by 5 points with Iga winning 121 and Kaia winning 116. Kaia’s 62 double faults to Iga’s 50 were the difference with Kaia having 35 winners while Iga had 31 in a very close encounter that could have gone either way.
“It feels amazing (to reach another Grand Slam semi-final). I’m pretty proud of myself especially after matches like that because coming from losing a set is a new thing for me but it is great. My main concern was if the sun is bothering me during the serve, I don’t really care it is hot and humid and it didn’t have much influence on me because physically I’m really prepared.
“I hoped that she will be more tired in the end and I actually wanted to prolong some rallies to make her more tired because I have big trust in my physical shape so the match showed it is smart to trust myself in that matter. I have more belief even when I don’t start a match well so I’m proud of myself that I’m still able to find solutions and think more on the court.
“I had my chances in the first set and I didn’t use them and she used the first chance she had. That was my main regret but in the end, you have to forget that and focus on what is in front of you and it took me too long to do that and that’s why I lost the first set but I am happy that I was able to switch in the second and third set,” said Iga during her press conference.
Iga discusses her match point and following idol Rafael Nadal’s journey
Iga continues her fangirling over Rafael Nadal who has also qualified into the semi-finals after a 5-set win over Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals yesterday.
“I fist-bumped Rafa like two days ago that was really inspiring. I am watching his every match except the yesterday one, I watched the fifth set. He is just pure class and a pure legend so it is always fun to watch him and I really enjoy it not as a tennis player but also as a fan.
“I wasn’t thinking a lot, I was just running and I was actually thinking where is the biggest probability she will hit the smash but I a doing it every time but it luck that you will go the right way but there is that probability but you never know what your opponent is going to do so I was pretty lucky I would say,” said Iga about her match point which was an amazing rally between the two.
Iga Swiatek to battle Danielle Collins in the semi-finals
Iga will face American Danielle Collins who defeated Alize Cornet earlier in the day and will see both players fighting to enter their first finals at Melbourne Park. Iga also talked about the difficulty of playing back to back matches as the semi-finals are scheduled tomorrow itself.
“It is hard to say right now because I just finished my match. But as I said I always feel prepared physically and I know my pre-season was pretty hard. I’ll have to see how the other factors are going to influence it like the stress because the recovery after practices even if they’re three-hour practices after a match, it is pretty different. But I’ll see tomorrow, I have optimistic views.
“I will approach the match as same as any other match. I’ve played some heavy hitters in this tournament already so I feel like I know their game on my racquet pretty well. Those two matches showed me even in tough moments I can come back and I have the skills to win matches even when they’re really hard so of course, it will be hard, she is in great shape and feels confident but I am also confident so I hope it is a good match,” concluded Iga.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)