Ostrava welcomed the world leader. Last year I felt at home here, says Swiatek

The tournament in Ostrava is your first appearance since winning the US Open. How did you spend those three weeks without any tough matches?

"I had to take a break. I used the time to reflect and rest physically and mentally. I didn't really do anything, which was great. Then I went back to training in Warsaw, we have similar conditions there as we have in Ostrava now. I feel that this tournament can be difficult. I just haven't played matches for three weeks and I'm coming back after winning a grand slam, which is always tricky. But I feel I'm ready."

What did it mean to you to win in New York, in completely different conditions to your favourite clay court in Paris?

"Winning in New York was probably mostly about knowing that I can play at the highest level, even if I don't feel perfect. I definitely played well from the quarter-finals onwards, but I know I had to improve a lot during the tournament. I was struggling in the weeks leading up to the US Open. And then when I came out victorious, it gave me that feeling that I can win under any conditions. And even if I don't feel ideal, I can still play well, I can still put the pressure on and get the best out of myself."

Last year was your first time in Ostrava, how was the experience for you?

"It was really nice because most of the people in the stands were Polish, so I felt at home. And I really like it here. It's so quiet here compared to a city like New York. When I arrived, I realised that it's a tournament where you can actually relax quite a bit while playing tennis."

Poland lacks such a major tournament. Do you feel like this could be a kind of home event for you?

"Although we don't have such a tournament in Poland yet, the plan is to give prestige to the tournament I played in Warsaw this year. But you are right, I feel more at home here than in other tournaments around the world. It was definitely nice to hear such an atmosphere when so many people from the south of Poland came here. I hope they will enjoy it again this year."

Will any of your family come to Ostrava to see you?

"My dad is here, that's new because he doesn't always travel with me. But that's all.  Maybe my friends will come too, but only if I get far, like last year. So I'll keep them in suspense..."

Was it hard to find the motivation to train again at the end of such a season in which you won the Grand Slam twice? Did you have the idea to take a little longer holiday this year?

"No. If I'm honest, getting back to training after such a successful season was much easier. In a way, this year I felt that even though I played so many matches, I'm not as tired if I win as I would be if I lose. So I don't have to talk myself out of it. There are a lot of things I want to get better at."

You changed your team setup a bit some time ago, and you didn't come to Ostrava with coach Tomasz Witkorowski either. Are you in touch via phone, or how does it actually work?

"Yes, but it's not new. We have already tried something similar this year in Dubai and we know what we want to guard. So we already have some procedures and he is always available. We always have a session together about match preparation and tactics. I feel it's good for all of us. We save energy. Sometimes I leave people from my team at home to be fresher, maybe for the Grand Slams. This year in the US it paid off."

You are known to like reading. What books did you take to Ostrava?

"I actually had to change that and got a Kindle. But there's the problem of having more books in the library with me and sometimes I jump from book to book. It's kind of a compromise. But I don't really know what I'm getting into here yet."