THE MODERATOR: We will start with questions.
Q. Congratulations on the title in Seoul.
IGA SWIATEK: Thank you.
Q. What have the last few days been like for you in terms of resting, reflecting on what was an interesting week in Seoul? What is the energy and mentality you bring into Beijing right now?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, honestly, I wasn't reflecting much because the day after I knew I have a day off, so I basically spent, like, 12 hours walking around Seoul because I just really wanted to see the city. I heard a lot of good things about it. During the tournament there wasn't a lot of time. During my days off, it was always raining.
I think maybe yesterday, I don't know, I was just reflecting maybe a bit and just happy that I could dig deep in that final. Even though maybe it wasn't a perfect match, I could still win it.
Yeah, because that doesn't happen often, I would say. Usually I just feel good and then I win. But I wasn't feeling the best at the beginning of the final, and then I could really turn it around.
I think this is the best thing about this tournament. But overall it was just great experience. I hope I will be back 'cause I really had a great time.
Q. We are closing in on the end of the season. After your win in Seoul, you are well-positioned to contend for world No. 1 by the Finals in Riyadh. Is that on your mind or a goal of yours for the rest of the Asian Swing?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I would say it's always something to be, like, there in the back, but it's not like it's a main focus.
I already know that thinking about the rankings, it's not a way to go, no matter if you're No. 2 or no matter if you're No. 1. It's just kind of numbers. But it doesn't change the fact that you need to kind of feel the tennis and focus on the improvement on the court, then the results are going to come after that.
So I'm not focusing on that. For sure it's a different situation than last year when I wasn't really able to defend my No. 1, like earn it. Yeah, so for sure I'm just happy that I'm here and I can compete and fight for it.
But I got to say, yeah, my main focus is more, like, tennis-related, how I want to play, how I feel on court, yeah.
Q. Last week there was also the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen. In the past the calendar position was quite a discussing topic. I'd like to know if this position at the beginning of the Asian Swing, it's something you kind of like it for the future, and if you spoke about the tournament with a few colleagues in these days?
IGA SWIATEK: I haven't because I knew I'm not playing these Finals.
But I think it's a good decision in terms of the scheduling because it's just tough in November for a player who don't play the WTA Finals to be kind of still in the season for more weeks and not be able to go on vacation because, I mean, okay maybe I shouldn't speak about vacation, but let's be honest, we don't have time during the year. We need to do that for our bodies, as well. Other players will wait. Other players will go on holidays, then practice a couple days, play Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which also is not perfect.
Yeah, putting it right now, I think it's better. But the question is if actually finally maybe ITF and WTA talk together and maybe these players don't have to play these six mandatory 500s, or five, because they have one week less to do that. That's the question.
Honestly, I got to say, because I didn't play, I don't know these rules (smiling). If WTA treated this as another tournament, maybe let them not have the six mandatory 500s, I think it would be nice. But I have no idea how it is.
Q. What are you looking forward to most in Beijing off the court?
IGA SWIATEK: That's a good question. I feel like a lot of things are, like, far away from us, like 40 minutes by car or even more. I know I'm not going to have a lot of time to explore.
I would like to go to the Great Wall, but I don't think I'll make it because the schedule is pretty tight. Yeah, just honestly I wasn't in the city center even two years ago, so I don't know Beijing that much. I played here once.
Yeah, for now I'm just going to focus on the tournament and we'll see how it goes. If I'm going to play well, again, I'm not going to have time to see anything (smiling). You never know.
There are a lot of things, but I'm not expecting a lot 'cause of the schedule.
Q. Obviously perfect debut for you here two years ago, winning the title. When you played it for the first time, what was your kind of sense as to what would make this tournament be a successful one for you in terms of whether it's conditions or facilities or hospitality, whatever it was? What was your impression the last time you were here?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, it's for sure changed throughout the tournament because I came here after Tokyo when I lost, like, third round. It was a smaller tournament. It was a big disappointment. I wasn't feeling good. I also felt really tired overall with the season after the US Open. I was even considering maybe skipping Asia Swing like two years ago. But my team said I'm not at that stage to do that.
I came here without any expectations. More like with being a bit tense because also I didn't win any WTA title. Everybody kind of judged me. I didn't have a good time at the beginning. I was having hard time on every practice and on every match.
Later on, throughout the tournament, I felt like, yeah, the surface fits me, the balls fit me, as well. We played this amazing match with Caro Garcia that was super tight. After that, I don't know, I kind of let go of this tension and I could play really great tennis.
For sure this tournament kind of lift me up in terms of my - I don't know - energy that I felt because, yeah, the last part of the season is not easy. Everybody feels a bit more fatigued, but I still need to push.
For sure this tournament was a great, like, change of momentum in the season for me.
Q. I notice in your first practice here at China Open, you switched your racquet back to white. Does it carry any special meaning or did you just feel like a white racquet for Beijing?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, I was told to change my racquet to white (smiling). But yeah, I'm going to be playing with white. That's Tecnifibre color.
Obviously, I like it. I had many great tournaments with it, so I'm back to white. I like the white racquet. It's Tecnifibre classic. It fits every outfit.
See you (smiling).
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports