Iga Swiatek tells cameraman to stop filming her as she removes her clo | Tennis | Sport
Iga Swiatek called for a camera operator to stop filming her during her Cincinnati Open semi-final clash with Elena Rybakina. The Polish star went on to secure a comfortable victory in a contest spanning over an hour and 38 minutes, booking her spot in the final to take on Jasmine Paolini.
Swiatek was forced to dig deep in the opening set, securing a 7-5 success to take a major step towards the final. The 24-year-old then wrapped up the contest with a 6-3 triumph in the second set as she bids for glory at the WTA 1000 event.
Swiatek kept a cool head throughout the contest, even when urging a camera operator to turn away at the end of the first set. The camera followed her to her bench to capture her facial expressions after the hard-fought set.
However, after breathing a sigh of relief and removing her cap, Swiatek then turned to the operator and waved her hand down the lens to indicate that she no longer wanted to be filmed as she was set to get changed. A brief wag of the finger then reinforced her point.
The shot concluded whilst Swiatek prepared to change her top, as most players do between sets to remain comfortable. The brief exchange did not impact the eventual victor’s headspace though and she went on to reach her first final in Cincinnati.
Speaking after her win, Swiatek said: “At the beginning, the level was pretty crazy. We played so fast that sometimes we couldn’t run to the second ball. I was there to play with intensity & good quality. I’m super happy with the performance.
“Anyone in the final is going to be super tough, so I have to think tactically. I will focus on myself and do what I’ve been doing, because for sure I feel like there’s been progress at this tournament. I just want to continue that, no matter what the result is.
“I feel the love here, it’s a great place to be. People of Cincinnati are so nice, everywhere we go, even though we’re here to play, we feel like we can have peace and just relax when off the court. So thank you guys for coming out, rooting for us and see you tomorrow!”
