French Open: Andy Roddick Defends Iga Swiatek’s Emotional Breakdown With an Ode to Her Fighting Spirit

“You fight…survive…become human again” – Iga Swiatek, who lately survived a narrow escape at the hands of Naomi Osaka, has received great praises from Andy Roddick. In the second round of the French Open, the Pole saved a match point when she trailed 3-5 in the final set and from there she went on to finish the game with a 7-6(1),1-6,7-5 victory over the Japanese. After the match, Swiatek couldn’t hold on to her emotions for too long and was seen wiping the tears from her face. However, as Roddick has said, she has got to “Rinse, repeat.”

This match was perhaps one of the best matches in women’s tennis this season. It seems as if Naomi Osaka snatched the defeat from the jaws of a victory! After the match, Iga Swiatek revealed that she felt like she was not completely in the zone in the first and second sets. “And when I was under the biggest pressure, I was actually able to switch that, and maybe that made the difference,” Swiatek. In a recently emerged clip, Iga Swiatek was seen crying uncontrollably, and here’s what Roddick said after seeing that viral clip. “Try to tell me Iga doesn’t care. This was a second-round match at a tournament she’s already won three times. This is sports,” Andy Roddick.

He further went on to remind the fans, “You fight, you survive, and then you become human again. Rinse, repeat. This woman is a champion….. and human.” The 41-year-old American tennis legend is a big fan of Iga Swiatek. Just before the start of the clay court season, he had already sent a stern warning to all her opponents. He called her a clear favorite and also mentioned that it would require a massive effort from someone to outclass her on this surface. Naomi Osaka did all she could, but still, the Polish had the last laugh!

In tennis, matches come very thick and fast, so it’s very important to release the pressures from previous matches and come back stronger in the next. Even Naomi Osaka admitted to crying just after her devastating defeat to the current world number one.

“I cried” – Just like Iga Swiatek, even Naomi Osaka underwent a series of emotions after the match

In a match, pressure can come from both opponents and the crowd sitting inside the stadium. Sometimes players thrive in these intense situations but in some cases, they struggle to keep their nerves calm. Naomi Osaka was spotted calming her nerves multiple times during the match through different methods. But she couldn’t do much after the match and revealed, “Like, I felt worse, for sure. I cried when I got off the court.“

While Iga Swiatek politely addressed the crowd after the match. She said, “I have huge respect for you guys and I know we are playing for you. But sometimes under a lot of pressure when you scream something during the rally. It’s really hard to be focused.” Swiatek went on to highlight that there’s a lot more at stake whenever they step onto the courts. Players always try to give their everything on the court during the matches, but a sudden shift of focus can change the entire course of the match. So, she highlighted how important it is to control emotions and stay focused during a match.

Share your thoughts on the epic Iga Swiatek vs Naomi Osaka clash in the R2.