The Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has revealed who she was texting during her live TV interview at the US Open.
Swiatek advanced to the quarter-finals in style after defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows. The world number two will now take on the home favourite Amanda Anisimova, as she chases a seventh Grand Slam title.
But it was not just her dominant display that caught the attention of fans during her last 16 match. During her post-match interview on court, Swiatek surprised the crowd when she pulled out her phone.
The on-court interviewer asked: "Do you have any interest in telling us who that text message was going to?".
Advert
Swiatek replied: "Just my coach. I asked him to book like 10 minutes of the practice courts if it’s possible."
Can Iga Swiatek win the US Open?
Yes, she is one of the clear favourites to win in New York and has looked strong throughout the tournament.
She has won three of her four games in straight sets, although Alexandrova was her first opponent within the world's top 20.
Swiatek also has experience of winning the US Open before, having defeated Ons Jabeur on the Arthur Ashe Stadium back in 2022.
But that victory is her only Grand Slam triumph on hard courts, having fallen short on two occasions in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Her dominant performances have tended to come on clay and she already has four French Open crowns to her name.
The 24-year-old arrives to this summer's US Open in good form, having defeated Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the Wimbledon final.
After an unprecedented defeat in SW19, the American will be eager for revenge in front of a home crowd.
Who are the other US Open favourites?
It is hard to look past the world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who has cruised through to the quarter-final stage, without dropping a set.
She is also the reigning US Open singles champion having defeated Jessica Pegula in last year's final.
But despite sitting at the top of the world rankings, she is yet to taste Grand Slam success in 2025, narrowly losing the French Open final in three sets to Coco Gauff.
Pegula is also a contender for the US Open crown and will face the unseeded Barbora Krejčíková in the next round.
A potential semi-final clash between Pegula and Sabalenka would be a rematch of last year's final.
On Swiatek's half of the draw Naomi Osaka, who defeated Gauff in the last 16, will take on Karolina Muchova in the other quarter-final.
James Taylor