BREAKING NEWS:
IGA SWIATEK REFLECTS ON HOW AMAZED SHE WAS THAT ELENA CONGRATULATED HER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY…
Warsaw, Poland – Fresh from her thrilling victory over Elena Rybakina at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, Iga Swiatek has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster she experienced during and after the match.
In an exclusive interview with Polish media, Swiatek revealed that she was bracing herself for a fiery reaction from Rybakina after the match. “I was prepared for Elena to be angry or frustrated, given how close the match was,” Swiatek admitted. “But instead, she came up to me and congratulated me on my win. It was a really classy move, and it showed a lot of respect.”
Swiatek, who has had a storied rivalry with Rybakina in the past, was clearly moved by the gesture. “It’s not always easy to be gracious in defeat, especially when you’ve come so close to winning,” she said. “But Elena showed a lot of character, and it’s something that I’ll always respect her for.”
The match itself was a nail-biter, with Swiatek ultimately emerging victorious 6-3. Despite the one-sided scoreline, the match was much closer than the score suggested, with both players trading blows and pushing each other to their limits.
Swiatek credited her win to her mental toughness and ability to stay focused under pressure. “I’ve been working a lot on my mental game, and it paid off today,” she said. “I was able to stay calm and composed, even when things got tough.”
Rybakina, on the other hand, was gracious in defeat, praising Swiatek’s performance and acknowledging that she was the better player on the day. “Iga played a great match, and she deserved to win,” Rybakina said. “I’ll take the positives from this match and move on to the next one.”
The win marked Swiatek’s second victory over Rybakina in their last three meetings, and it cemented her position as one of the top players in the world. With the 2025 season fast approaching, Swiatek is looking to build on her momentum and make a deep run in the majors.
As for Rybakina, she’ll look to bounce back from the loss and continue her own push for glory in the new season. Despite the defeat, she can take heart from her performance and the respect she showed to Swiatek after the match.
