Iga Swiatek makes ‘most extreme schedule’ look easy at US Open mixed doubles

It has been what Iga Swiatek has called her “most extreme schedule” after winning a tournament final.

Following her 7-5, 6-4 final win over Jasmine Paolini to earn her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday night, the world No. 2 took a private jet along with Carlos Alcaraz to New York to arrive in time for the U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament Tuesday.

“Yeah, I stretched, did ice bath, quick shower, media, and after like [a] 1 ¹/₂ hour after the match, we already went to catch a plane,” she said at a press conference on the first day of the retooled two-day event. “So that’s it. Yeah, it was pretty fast.”

Swiatek landed around 1:30 a.m. and hardly slept before her first round mixed doubles match with Casper Ruud to face Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe.

Nevertheless, it didn’t show on the court.

The duo rolled through the American pair 4-1, 4-2 in their first-round win, then went on to swiftly beat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals 4-1, 4-2. It was three victories in about 18 hours for the six-time Grand Slam winner.

“Honestly, it’s much easier when you win a tournament because you have a lot of positive energy and adrenaline,” Swiatek said. “No, I wouldn’t say I felt that tired. I think I felt yesterday’s match in my body because obviously the final is always, like, you get a little bit more tight. After the match, all the emotions, you can feel it in your body. … Also if I’m used to playing singles, then playing mixed doubles, it is less intense. You don’t need to run that much. I’m enjoying it.”

Ruud admitted he was “concerned” as Swiatek advanced further into Cincinnati, thinking their pairing may be in jeopardy with the tight schedule. Unbeknownst to Swiatek, he also was in contact with her team while the Polish player was competing in the final. 

“We both prepared each other if we were to do well in Cincinnati, that something might happen. We said that early when we planned,” he said.

“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry,” a smiling Swiatek interrupted.

“I think it’s her will in the end and she decided to show up here, which is wildly impressive because she got to bed 12 hours ago in her hotel in New York, and she is here,” Ruud added. “She was here stretching, doing her warm-up at 10 a.m.”

The world No. 12 Norwegian will hang on to Swiatek’s winning ways for Wednesday’s semifinal round where they will face Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper en route to the $1 million final prize pot.