By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Iga Swiatek has spoke about her determination to win Wimbledon one day after suffering a shock exit to Yulia Putintseva
- Ons Jabeur gave an update on her fitness as the two-time finalist also crashed out
- Ben Shelton previews his fourth round clash with world number one Jannik Sinner
LONDON, ENGLAND – Iga Swiatek has spoken about her determination to win Wimbledon in the future after the world number one suffered a shock exit to Yulia Putintseva on day six.
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Iga Swiatek ‘determined’ to win Wimbledon one day
The day six talking points starts with world number one Iga Swiatek who suffered a shock third round exit to Yulia Putintseva.
It was a good start from Swiatek but ultimately the Roland Garros champion fell away quite quickly as Putintseva moved into the second week.
Speaking after the match Swiatek praised Putintseva’s performance but also spoke about how she made too many mistakes in the contest.
“I think it’s never only one person because we’re literally playing tennis match. It’s about what I’m playing as well I think. I totally let her come back to the game in the second set. I shouldn’t have done that. I made some mistakes, as well. But for sure, she used her chance,” Swiatek analysed.
“Honestly, I mostly remember my mistakes, what I did wrong. It’s hard for me to analyze from the other perspective now. I would need to kind of watch this match. But I was more focused on myself and how I can get my game better.
“For sure, I felt like my energy level went down little bit in the second set. I couldn’t really get back up. I know what I need to change, and I’ll do that. But grass season is over, so it’s not like I need to really think about this match in terms of analysing for next week because basically it’s going to be totally different on clay and hard court. I’m not going to really focus on this match in terms of the tactics or technical stuff.”
After winning the title at Juniors level, Swiatek has struggled to translate her style to the main draw having only reached the second week on two occasions.
Reflecting on her performances at Wimbledon Swiatek admitted she has underachieved a little bit on the grass and is looking to get better.
“Well, not positive obviously. I lost in the third round. I felt like I underachieved a little bit. But it’s tennis, so you have to move on,” Swiatek explained.
“I’ll have many more chances this year to show my game. I’ll just focus on that. Honestly, the same way as before any important tournament. For sure I’m going to take a lesson and rest a bit more. I don’t know, I feel like even though I didn’t perform well at this tournament, because of how the whole season is looking, I deserve it.
“I should literally do it better ’cause I’m not going to be able to go through the whole season playing good tennis. I’ll focus on that and I’ll get back to work on clay.”
However, Swiatek is not one to be giving up easily as she has become world number one by constantly evolving her game.
The future is looking positive for the Pole and she is determined to win Wimbledon one day as she will only get stronger from these defeats.
“I mean, if I would have another Wimbledon in two months, I would be really, really determined. For sure I’ll focus really hard right now to work for it,” Swiatek said.
“It’s going to be in a year, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen in a year. Obviously I am determined, like, on every tournament. Actually, this part of the season is not easy because it’s the middle of the season, we’re switching surfaces.
“For me going from this kind of tennis where I felt like I’m playing the best tennis in my life to another surface where I kind of struggle a little bit more, it’s not easy. All that stuff really combines to me not really having a good time in Wimbledon.
“Again, I feel like if I’m going to do a better job at recovering and if I will have more energy coming into the tournament, I can work through that and just, yeah, focus on the right stuff.”
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Ons Jabeur provides knee injury update
It was also a bad day in the office for two-time finalist Ons Jabeur who lost in straight sets to Elina Svitolina in the third round.
The Tunisian had reached the last two Wimbledon finals but there will be no third consecutive final this year as she was beaten convincingly.
Speaking after the match Jabeur admitted she was haunted by playing on Centre Court after last year’s final but praised Svitolina for the way she played.
“I’m not going to lie to you. It was a bit of remembering last year. Especially not playing so good, not serving the way I wanted in the first set especially did bring a bit of sad memories,” Jabeur revealed.
“I feel like she really played a great match. I didn’t see the other matches, but I felt like even speaking with my team, it was a solid one. I take a lot of positives because even though I feel like I didn’t play my best and I tried to come back in the second set, and I had my chance to come.
“That’s tennis. I hope I can definitely learn from this one and be stronger in the second half of the season.”
The Tunisian will aim to come back stronger as she will look to give Wimbledon another go next year.
Jabeur has a bad history with knee injuries and the Tunisian admitted that she had another injection on her knee in order to prevent the pain.
“Yeah, it’s part of kind of the season when I need to have another injection in my knee. I schedule that after Wimbledon. I need to take care of it,” Jabeur warned.
“I think it’s going to be a week or week and a half off because, yeah, medically I need to give it a little bit of time. But yeah, I mean, it is what it is. Like I said last time, the knee, it’s always going to bother me and I’m always going to play with it. Yeah, a couple of months ago I couldn’t play, now I’m moving much better. I’m really grateful for that.”
Ben Shelton ‘excited’ about Sinner challenge
Next up Ben Shelton spoke about the prospect of facing Jannik Sinner in the fourth round after he defeated Denis Shapovalov in five sets.
Speaking after the match the American said that he’s excited about facing the world number one and outlined the challenges that awaits him on Sunday.
“Yeah, I’m really excited. We have played three times. He’s got me two of them. I think that it’s always good to have played somebody before, beaten them, lost against them,” Shelton said.
“You know kind of what it feels like going into the match. He’s one of the guys who has had the most success on tour so far this year as the World No. 1. I think it’s a great opportunity for me, a great challenge and test.
“The biggest challenge in tennis playing the top-ranked player in the world. But, you know, I’m never somebody to be scared going into a match or feel unprepared. I’m always confident in my abilities no matter who is on the other side of the net.
“I’m going to go out there and, like I said, try to problem-solve, figure things out as it goes and, yeah, just compete as hard as I can.”
Alexander Zverev speaks about meeting Pep Guardiola
The final word goes to Alexander Zverev after the German defeated Cameron Norrie in straight sets to reach the fourth round.
Watching Zverev were a number of high-profile names in the royal box and one of them was former footballer and current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Zverev spoke about meeting Guardiola for the first time after his impressive win.
“He’s a great guy. I talked to him afterwards, as well,” Zverev said.
“I have huge respect for him. Obviously he was an incredible player, also as a manager he’s unbelievable. As a person also he’s so welcoming. It’s really a pleasure to talk to him, just communicate. I was very happy to meet him today.”
Zverev will now play Taylor Fritz in the last 16 on Monday.
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