Iga Swiatek wasn't impressed with being asked about whether she needed "a mental break" following her US Open exit, and that led to a testy exchange with a journalist.
After winning her maiden Wimbledon and Cincinnati titles this summer, Swiatek also triumphed in her opening four US Open matches. But then, on Wednesday, the second-seeded Pole failed to deliver her best play and Amanda Anisimova took full advantage of that and completed a 6-4 6-3 upset win.
In the press room, British tennis journalist David Law asked the 24-year-old: "Do you feel like a mental break? I'm not talking about the loss as such," to what the Pole bluntly responded: "Why would you say that?"
Swiatek to Law: You look like you need a mental break
Law explained to the reigning Wimbledon champion that there had been "a lot in the road," and that's why he felt it was suitable to ask that question.
The former world No. 1 snapped, responding: "Well, talk to the people responsible for the schedule... You look like you need a mental break."
Law tried to de-escalate the situation by stating: "I do, yeah." But that only led to another blunt comment by Swiatek: "Well, then what are you doing here?"
Meanwhile, the Polish tennis star gave credit where credit was due and acknowledged that Anisimova was a completely player on Wednesday than she was when they clashed in the Wimbledon final.
"It was totally different. Like, she moved better, she played better. Yeah, everything was different," Swiatek, who beat Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in the Wimbledon final, noted.
