Tennis fans saw the funny side after hearing Iga Swaitek’s response to a reporter’s question before the French Open final.
The Pole is preparing for her fourth final at the clay court major after defeating Coco Gauff in Thursday’s semi-final.
After escaping from the jaws of defeat at the hands of Naomi Osaka in round two, the 22-year-old has been utterly dominant at Roland Garros in 2024.
In the four matches since her epic contest with the Japanese player, Swiatek has lost a combined total of just 14 games.
She is the overwhelming favourite heading into the final against Jasmine Paolini, who is playing her first Grand Slam final.
What did Iga Swiatek say to a reporter that made fans laugh?
Swiatek previewed her fourth Roland Garros final in five years by taking some questions from the press after defeating Gauff for the 11th time.
One reporter asked the Pole to describe how comfortable and confident she feels when playing on clay.
And Swiatek nonchalantly answered ‘high’ with a shrug of the shoulders, as if to question how else she is meant to feel given her consistently impressive results on the surface.
Fans using social media platform X couldn’t contain their laughter as @hilshanskyi said: “This is so funny I can’t. I watched it 5 times and can’t stop giggling.”
@ilya972049 posted: “For a longer moment I thought that she just said ‘Hi’ and let that sink in haha” while @ubiqutkus said: “Even she’s had enough,” alongside some laughing emojis.
Another wrote: “No sense in trying to be modest or humble, nobody would believe it. She is too damn good.”
Even Bianca Andreescu, who reached the French Open third round where she lost to finalist Paolini, posted laughing emojis in response to Swiatek’s comment.
What did Jasmine Paolini say about Iga Swiatek ahead of the French Open final?
Swiatek will face 12th seed Paolini in Saturday’s final, who upset Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals and cruised past Mirra Andreeva in the last four.
She will face top seed for the third time and will attempt to become the first person to beat her at Roland Garros since 2021.
Both players have Polish roots, as Swiatek was born and raised in the country while Paolini’s mother is of Polish descent. The player tries to communicate in Polish with the four-time Grand Slam champion, who she has the greatest respect and admiration for.
“I try to speak in Polish, but it’s not easy. I’m a little bit shy because I’m not feeling really confident in it, but of course, when I see her, I say congratulations for the titles she can win,” the Italian said.
“She does the same. She congratulated me after Dubai. She wishes me good luck after matches when we meet in the locker room. So, yeah, I try to speak Polish, but, you know, it’s not easy for me, but we have a relationship, yeah.”
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