World No 1 Iga Swiatek says there is something she can learn from Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz’s fighting spirit and their never-give-up attitude. After suffering a Wimbledon quarterfinal defeat, Swiatek kept following Wimbledon and she watched Alcaraz’s impressive five-set win over Djokovic.
Then, Swiatek also turned her TV when Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in a three-hour and 49-minute Cincinnati Masters final. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion, admits she was impressed by how Djokovic and Alcaraz reacted in certain very stressful situations during their last two matches.
Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
Swiatek praises Djokovic, Alcaraz
“Well, I watched both matches. I don’t watch a lot, but these matches I actually watch from the beginning till the end.
Yeah, they are always really exciting, and you see, you know, the clash of, like, two generations. Well, I don’t know. They’re just so solid and good. They don’t give each other points for free. It’s amazing how they can keep the intensity from the beginning till the end.
I don’t know. I’m just watching them as a fan, you know, because I know that most of the stress they are playing it would be impossible for me to play (smiling). I can learn obviously, like, from how they behave and, like, mentally how they never give up.
There were like plenty of points in this match in Cincinnati when Carlos, I don’t know, for example the match point how he saved this was unbelievable. I don’t know. I’m watching more as a fan, yeah. But how they fight till the end and, like, the clash of these two games is just amazing,” Swiatek said.Meanwhile, Swiatek has been through to the US Open third round after beating Daria Saville 6-3 6-4.
So far, Swiatek has had two straight-set wins at the US Open. In her next match, defending US Open champion Swiatek plays Kaja Juvan.
