Iga Swiatek reaches first US Open final, will face fifth seed Ons Jabeur
This story has been updated.
It’s been a while since I’ve had much to say at this site. I know I should, and I am in fact thinking about it. The issue, as always, is staying with it. The last few weeks, I have been more or less in a place where I could allow myself to go through all the normal feelings that come with the experience of a major tournament, with the pressure of the major tournament, and the expectations of the major tournament.
There is a lot of great tennis here. I have seen a lot of talent and played a lot of tennis and that is why I have been able to stay with this tournament and still feel like I am able to write about it.
The most significant change in the game is that if you get out of your comfort zone, you get out of your league and find yourself in a new league.
I have been on the edge, my comfort zone, for most of my life. I was born in a refugee camp, and then when I was a teenager, I saw my best friend get killed in Iraq and that changed my life. That’s when I developed an ability to stay out of my comfort zone and go for my dreams and goals.
Coming into the US Open, I was not expecting to be in the same league. I feel like I have been in my comfort zone, in the middle of a lot of talent, and I have been a bit on the bubble. I have been in the tournament every year since it started back in 1972 and I feel like I have been able to maintain that. I have been able to go through some tough moments in my career, and those have been in my comfort zone, but still had the ability to keep going and make it as a professional.
I remember when I won my first tournament here, the U.S. Open, I remember walking into the locker room, and I was like: “Man, I have to make it to the next round here.” I couldn’t imagine. I didn’t think I could make it, but I did. I did. And then I started to feel like: “I can make the next round
