NEW YORK – World No. 1 Iga Świątek publicly expressed her joy for Taylor Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce following the announcement of their engagement. The Polish tennis star, a self-described “Swiftie,” shared her fandom history and defended Swift against online criticism during a press conference after her first-round victory at the US Open.
“Travis seems like a great guy.She seems super happy, so I’m happy for her. I wish them all the best,” Świątek said.
Świątek revealed she first became a fan of Swift in 2014, actively following both the artist’s official channels and dedicated fan pages for updates.
“I just followed everything,” Świątek explained. “I was following her, but also some, like, fan pages to see the updates.”
Her musical tastes evolved alongside Swift’s discography. While initially lukewarm towards the 2017 album Reputation,Świątek’s recognition grew over time. “When the Reputation album came out, I’ve got to say I didn’t really like it that much. So I had a little break,” she admitted. ”But then in 2019 and when Folklore and Evermore were released during covid, I started listening to Taylor again. It’s great. But I like Reputation now.Don’t worry.”
The six-time Grand Slam singles champion also voiced her support for Swift amidst online negativity. “I don’t get it, because she just makes our world better,” Świątek stated.
When a reporter attempted to steer the conversation towards tennis, Świątek playfully declined, responding with a firm ”No.”
Świątek secured her place in the US Open second round with a win, extending her record to 65 consecutive WTA-level first-round victories. This surpasses Monica Seles’ previous record of 64. The 2022 US Open champion will next face Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands.
