Iga Swiatek admits what was ‘weird’ about her Olympics experience in Paris after winning bronze

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Iga Swiatek bounced back from semi-final heartbreak to cruise to victory in the bronze medal match in Paris this summer.

The Pole was going into the Olympics as the red-hot favorite, returning to the site where she had one four of the last five editions of the French Open.

However, Swiatek was shocked by a dialed-in Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals, who dismantled her 25-match unbeaten streak at Roland Garros.

It was the first time that the world number one had lost on the Parisian clay in 1,149 days, but this did not stop her from shaking off the setback to claim a medal.

Swiatek was successful in her bid not to leave the French capital empty-handed after she stormed through Anna Schmiedlova in straight sets to clinch the bronze medal.

Iga Swiatek reflects on her Olympics experience

Iga Swiatek arrived at the Cincinnati Open this week to headline a stacked field in the WTA 1000 tournament.

After a nervy opener that went the distance, normal service resumed for Swiatek, who despatched Marta Kostyuk to set up a blockbuster quarter-final with rising star Mirra Andreeva.

Speaking ahead of this clash, Swiatek opened up about her experience at the Olympic Games.

“It was weird, honestly,” Iga Swiatek told Tennis Channel. “It was kind of bittersweet.

“It’s not easy to lose a match during a tournament and then still feel 100% happy. But now after time I can appreciate it more and it means even more because I put things in perspective and I know this medal is something special.

“Also, winning the last match and getting up there and focusing and being super professional even though you want to cry after the last match wasn’t easy, so I’m super proud of myself.”

How does Swiatek look in Cincinnati?

Swiatek is contesting her first tournament of the North American swing, having taken a short break from the tour after the Olympics.

The world number one looked a little shaky in her opener as she dropped a set but, just as she did in Paris, quickly brushed away any doubt with a 6-2 6-2 hammering of Kostyuk.

Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff exited early at the hands of Yulia Putintseva, but Aryna Sabalenka and Canadian Open winner Jessica Pegula are safely through to the quarters.

Still, Swiatek looks eager to maximize the time spent on the match court in Cincinnati before she bids to emulate the form that propelled her to glory at Flushing Meadows in 2022.