Iga Swiatek Mistakes Rain for Spitting in Cincinnati Interview

A Moment of Laughter and Intensity

During her on-court interview after securing a spot in the Cincinnati Open final, Iga Swiatek showcased both her intensity and her playful side. At one point, she paused the conversation to ask, “Wait, rain?” The interviewer quickly clarified, “No, no, no, it’s probably me spitting on you when I’m asking you a question.” This led to a burst of laughter from Swiatek, who replied, “I just heard something, I thought it was thunder.” The pair soon realized that the sound was simply an airplane overhead before Swiatek redirected the focus back to her tennis.

Swiatek had just completed a high-energy match against Elena Rybakina, winning 7-5, 6-3. Despite Rybakina being on the verge of taking the set, she ultimately lost the match. Swiatek is now aiming for another title following her strong performance at Wimbledon last month. Although she struggled in Canada, she has made a remarkable comeback in recent weeks. If she wins on Monday, it would be her 11th career WTA 1000 title.

Reflecting on the Match

“I don’t know, yeah, that was a tough match. At the beginning, the level was pretty crazy. We played so fast that sometimes we couldn’t even run to the second ball because we played so fast. But I was there to play with intensity and good quality, and I’m super happy with the performance. I served much better, so for sure it helped, and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Swiatek is set to face Jasmine Paolini in the final. Earlier in the evening, Paolini defeated Veronika Kudermetova in a thrilling comeback. Both players present unique challenges for Swiatek, as they play very different styles of tennis.

Preparing for the Final

“Well, anyone who’s going to be in the final, it’s going to be super tough. Both of these opponents play totally different tennis, like on the other sides of the spectrum, in terms of the spin and the pace. So I have to, for sure, prepare tactically, but I’ll just kind of focus on myself and try to continue the work I’ve been doing, because for sure I feel like I’ve progressed in this tournament. I just want to continue that, no matter what the result is or what the stake of the match is.”

Swiatek's progress is evident. Her serve has never looked sharper, her movement relentless, and her composure unshakable—even during lighthearted moments like the one where she joked about phantom thunder.

Gratitude to Fans

The Polish star also took a moment to thank the Cincinnati fans for their warmth throughout the week. “Yes, for sure. I feel the love here, and it’s a great place to be. People of Cincinnati are so nice, and anywhere we go, we feel like even though we’re here to play and everybody kind of knows us, we feel like we can have peace and just relax when we’re off the court. So thank you guys for coming and cheering for us, and see you tomorrow.”

Match Statistics: Rybakina vs. Swiatek

| Statistic | Rybakina | Swiatek | |----------|----------|---------| | Aces | 10 | 7 | | Double Faults | 1 | 3 | | 1st Service Percentage | 58% (38/66) | 64% (38/59) | | 1st Service Points Won | 63% (24/38) | 82% (31/38) | | 2nd Service Points Won | 48% (13/27) | 52% (11/21) | | Break Points Saved | 67% (6/9) | 75% (3/4) | | Service Games | 91% (10/11) | 70% (7/10) | | 1st Return Points Won | 18% (7/38) | 37% (14/38) | | 2nd Return Points Won | 48% (10/21) | 52% (14/27) | | Match Duration | 1h 40m | 1h 40m |

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