“I’m trying to stay in my own bubble”: Iga Swiatek explains how she blocks out New York pressure at the US Open
WTATuesday, 01 September 2026 at 23:00
Iga Swiatek is finding her own way to deal with the chaos of New York as she looks to turn her recent resurgence into another deep Grand Slam run.
The Polish star began her US Open campaign with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory over Xinyu Wang on Monday, but it was her comments away from the court that offered an interesting insight into how she approaches life during one of the most demanding weeks of the tennis season.
Swiatek arrived in New York with considerably more confidence than she had carried through much of the first half of 2026. Her season changed direction in Toronto, where she won the Canadian Open for her first title of the year, before reaching the semifinals in Cincinnati and building momentum ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.
The six-time major champion is now chasing a seventh Grand Slam title and will face Nadia Podoroska in the second round. Yet while the pressure around her remains considerable, Swiatek appears increasingly comfortable with controlling what she can and creating her own space in a city where finding peace is not always easy.
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Swiatek explains her New York escape
New York is almost the opposite of the environment Swiatek needs when preparing for a Grand Slam match. The city is crowded, noisy and constantly moving, meaning even the world's best players cannot completely escape the attention surrounding the tournament.
Swiatek, however, has developed a simple way of dealing with it. Rather than trying to experience everything the city offers, she prefers to retreat into familiar activities and create a routine around herself.
“I read books, I do Legos, I’m trying to get out to some nature, but it’s not easy because not too much nature here," the former world No. 1 said at press conference. "But overall I have my space that I feel comfortable in, and that’s it.”
Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts during the women's singles quarterfinal match against Diana Shnaider of Russia at the 2026 National Bank Open
The answer is consistent with the way Swiatek has previously spoken about Lego and other quiet hobbies, but it also underlines the importance she places on having somewhere away from tennis where she can switch off.
“There’s good food, different atmosphere, so I’m trying to find positives out of it, but for sure this city can be a lot, so I’m trying to keep my focus and be in my own bubble.”
That “bubble” has become particularly valuable as Swiatek attempts to build on the confidence she recovered during the North American hard-court swing.
A different Swiatek after her turnaround
The change in her tennis has been accompanied by a change in the way she feels about the work behind it. Swiatek believes the adjustments she has made with Francisco Roig are no longer something she has to consciously force during matches.
“I just feel like my work clicked, and all these things that I needed to do with Francis, we were doing it from the beginning, but I feel like it’s more natural now. I don’t need to think about it. It became more automatic, so my game is a bit more calm.”
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That was reflected in her opening-round performance against Wang. Swiatek controlled the match from the baseline, broke serve early in both sets and never allowed the Chinese player to establish sustained pressure.
She also continued one of the most remarkable records in Grand Slam tennis. The victory took her to 38-1 in Grand Slam first rounds, with 28 of those wins coming in straight sets.
“I’m more patient, but I think I’m making better decisions on the court. I’m happy that this work paid off, and it’s giving the results now.”
The timing of that progress is significant. Swiatek had endured a difficult first half of the season before finally lifting a trophy in Toronto, her first of 2026. She followed that title by reaching the last four in Cincinnati, giving her the kind of results that can change the mood around a player heading into a major.
Now Podoroska stands between Swiatek and the third round in New York. With six Grand Slam titles already on her résumé and the 2022 US Open crown among them, the expectations remain high.
But Swiatek's comments suggest that her priority is more straightforward: maintain her routine, stay inside her bubble and allow the tennis that has recently started to feel “more automatic” to do the talking.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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