If Iga Świątek is topped Australian Open champion on the finish of the match, she might need to thank The Rolling Stones.
The legendary British rock band had been blaring via the world primary’s headphones as she entered Rod Laver Enviornment to face Danielle Collins within the second spherical on Thursday.
It was a match during which Świątek was staring on the prospect of an early exit from the season-opening main after she dropped consecutive service video games to path her American opponent 1-4 within the third and closing set.
However the Pole regained her focus when it counted, profitable 5 consecutive video games to ice a tense 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win after three hours and 14 minutes on courtroom.
And that is the place The Rolling Stones performed their half in holding Świątek’s Australian Open hopes alive.
“I really feel like after I’m actually well-focused I’m form of repeating the identical tune all through the entire match,” Świątek instructed her post-match media convention.
“It provides me power and I can form of slim my focus simply to that tune that I maintain listening to and the technical stuff that I need to take into consideration.
“I do not like when my mind is form of choosing up the songs from the changeovers [during a match] as a result of each time is a distinct one.
“I need to maintain listening to The Rolling Stones.”
Regardless of profitable the primary set, Świątek didn’t look comfy early, though the four-time main winner appeared headed for victory when she broke Collins within the opening recreation of the second.
However Collins, who defeated Świątek within the Australian Open semifinals in 2022, proceeded to win the subsequent 5 video games, permitting her to serve for the set.
Świątek claimed one service break again but it surely was not sufficient to stop Collins from forcing a 3rd and closing set.
The previous world quantity seven was solely two video games away from victory within the third, however Świątek by no means gave up.
“I used to be form of certain that she was going to have bother sustaining that stage all through the entire match,” Świątek stated.
After breaking Collins within the sixth recreation of the ultimate set, the momentum swung in Świątek’s favour.
“Within the third, I got here again to my regular form of focus,” Świątek stated.
So what tune of The Rolling Stones was Świątek listening to when she stroll on courtroom?
” I do not need to say as a result of I already stated it a few instances,” Świątek stated with a smile.
“It [might become] just like the anthem of the match or no matter. It [could ruin] it just a little bit for me. I do not need to say.
“I had on my first Roland Garros (French Open) that I received Welcome to the Jungle. I could not even hear it ever once more due to all this fuss that this tune made.”
