Iga Swiatek clashes with reporter over ‘mental break’ question after US Open loss

Iga Swiatek ended the US Open season in a heated exchange during her post-match press conference.

The Polish tennis player faced a gruelling quarterfinal defeat to Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday, September 3.

The world no. 2, who lost 6-4, 6-3, snapped at a reporter who suggested to her that she might need a mental break after this season.

The journalist asked, “It's been a lot of tennis the last few weeks: Wimbledon, the American tournaments leading up to this, and now this. How tired are you at the moment?”

Swiatek responded with, “Well, I don't know. It's not like my matches were exhausting here.”

The reporter then asked a follow-up question about whether she wanted to take a mental break.

The 24-year-old’s response grew sharp, “Why would you say that?”

After assessing the irritable response of the player, the journalist explained that he didn’t direct towards her defeat. Instead, the question was due to her tight schedule.

“I just wondered. It's just a lot in a row. Do you look forward to a break?” he asserted.

Swiatek then turned the question back on him, “Well, talk to people responsible for the schedule. Do you need mental break?”

“You look like you need mental break,: she added.

The reporter agreed that they do need a break, but first, they have to cover the entire tournament.

Swiatek wished them luck before taking another question.

Despite the awkward moment, Swiatek acknowledged technical struggles in her match, saying, “I kind of maybe didn't serve the best throughout the whole tournament.”