The Pole Hopes to Get Her Mind Right Before the Third Round. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday September 2, 2021

Iga Swiatek won from a set down for the fourth time at a Grand Slam on Thursday, battling past Fiona Ferro of France, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-0 to set a third-round encounter with Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.

But the Pole, the 2020 Roland Garros champion and the No.7 seed in New York, was not pleased with the way she handled the pressure on Day 4.

“For sure it was a tough match,” she told reporters. “I think I didn't start it properly, because I felt like I couldn't properly feel my legs. But it's not the first time, so I'm trying to work on that.”

Fighting back from the brink 🤘@iga_swiatek | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/MmTtc9G6mK

— wta (@WTA) September 2, 2021

Swiatek, who is into the third round for the second consecutive year in New York, says she felt better in the second set but never really was able to find her aggressive game and mindset against Ferro.

“In second set, I loosened up a little bit, kind of changed tactics,” she said, comparing it to her win against Barbora Krejcikova at Rome this spring. “It was a similar match, in my mind, it was a similar match in Rome against Krejcikova. It was a similar situation. And it's always tough for me to use these kind of solutions when I'm just trying to push that ball and just give it back, because I usually want to, I don't know, lead or attack or just build the rally.

“This time I felt like I'm pretty tight, so it's the only chance for me to win points.”

Looking ahead to facing Kontaveit, Swiatek says she hopes she can trick her mind into believing she is the underdog, because she knows it will be easier to play loose if she believes it.

“I'm trying to trick my mind all the time, so, yeah, I mean, it's hard,” she said. “That's why I'm like kind of struggling on court, but yeah, Anett is playing great. I know that. I don't have such a strong control over my mind to actually be sure that I'm going to be able to do that, but I will try, because I know that then I will just be loosened up and that's the most important thing for me right now.”

The American fell to Sloane Stephens in New York, and reflected on her Grand Slam season. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday September 1, 2021

After her 6-4, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Sloane Stephens, 17-year-old Coco Gauff took stock of her impressive Grand Slam season. The American reached her first major quarterfinal at Roland Garros, before losing to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova. Two weeks later she made the second week of Wimbledon for the second time, falling to former champion and eventual semifinalist Angelique Kerber.

Though she may have wanted more, Gauff believes she is closer than ever before to winning a major.

“I think that I feel like I've learned that I'm capable of making it far in slams,” she said. “I think if I tighten up a few things, that I'm capable of winning one. The past couple slams I've lost to players that have gone to the quarters or won eventually, so it shows that I'm there.

“I feel like there's just an experience lacking that I have. I definitely think it shows. I think that I just need to play more matches so I feel more comfortable on the pressure moments.”

Stephens, who is ranked 23, says her high point of the season was reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. She also reminded reporters that her work is not done at the majors this year. She’ll play doubles with Caty McNally.

“I think obviously the standout was the French Open quarterfinal,” she said. “The goal is always to win, so obviously I think I can do a lot better. But I feel like I have a lot to improve on. I think today's match showed what I need to improve on. I still have doubles, so it's not quite over. Singles-wise, I think I have a lot to work on. I'm going to go back to work once this is over.”