Iga Swiatek makes revealing ‘humility’ admission after Paris 2024 bronze
Iga Swiatek has admitted she may have a “little bit more humility” after recovering from her devasting semi-final defeat at Paris 2024.
World No 1 Swiatek was the overwhelming favourite for singles gold at Roland Garros, having dominated on clay courts in recent seasons.
But the five-time Grand Slam champion was left in tears after a shock semi-final loss to Zheng Qinwen on Thursday, the Chinese sixth seed prevailing 6-2, 7-5 in a stunning victory.
Swiatek bounced back to win bronze on Friday, breezing past Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1 to seal her spot on the podium.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the 23-year-old conceded she wasn’t aware how the “baggage” of playing for Poland at the Games would impact her.
And she also admitted that she would have more “humility” in the future after struggling with the pressure in her semi-final.
“I actually realized yesterday that I wasn’t really playing for myself,” said the world No 1.
“I was more playing for everybody else, for the country, for my team, for everybody that hoped that I’m going to win a medal and probably win a gold medal.
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“I wasn’t quite aware how deep it was in me and how much baggage that was. I know that I haven’t been playing my A-game here probably.
“I wasn’t feeling like I can move really naturally and in a way that I’m used to on clay. I’m happy anyway that I pushed through that and I’m here with a bronze medal
“I was maybe a little bit too arrogant with myself because I thought that I handled so much pressure before that I think I’m going to handle this one as well.
“And now I actually am really motivated to work even harder and I think I’m going to have a little bit more humility.”
Many wondered how Swiatek would respond on Friday after what was likely one of the most difficult losses of her career just 24 hours before.
But Swiatek claimed that the prospect of the bronze medal playoff helped her deal with the emotions of her loss to Qinwen, even if it still “broke her heart.”
She added: “I think if I hadn’t played today I would cry for a week, so I needed to get it together.
“I probably cried for like six hours yesterday so, it was really tough. Sometimes it feels like it’s sport and it’s tennis and usually I’m able to have a distance to all of it and just understand that it’s only one part of my life.
“But this time it was like somebody really broke my heart, so it’s crazy, honestly.”
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