Iga Swiatek fondly recalls getting distracted by the late actor Matthew Perry, who died recently. She had clinched her third Grand Slam title, defeating Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the finals of the 2022 US Open at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. As the world’s top-ranked player, this triumph added to her already impressive list of achievements, which included a second French Open title the same year.
Matthew Perry, the beloved Friends star known for his role as Chandler Bing, momentarily overshadowed Swiatek’s remarkable win. Perry, along with a few friends and his goddaughter Tara, had attended the women’s singles final of the US Open. Swiatek, despite her convincing straight-sets victory, couldn’t help but be starstruck by Perry’s presence.
After the match, she expressed her fandom with a tweet dedicated to the late actor, playfully sharing, “Me when I really wanted to be focused but I saw @MatthewPerry on the screen during the changeover. Could this BE any more exciting?” Perry responded to her tweet with a heartfelt message, saying, “Congratulations on your wonderful win yesterday, Champ!”
Me when I really wanted to be focused but I saw @MatthewPerry on the screen during the changeover. Could this BE any more exciting? pic.twitter.com/JMLpvQjnNA
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) September 11, 2022
Congratulations on your wonderful win yesterday, Champ!
— matthew perry (@MatthewPerry) September 11, 2022
This unexpected celebrity encounter added a unique and memorable experience to Swiatek’s Grand Slam victory at the 2022 US Open. For Iga Swiatek, this encounter left a cherished and heartwarming memory of the Friends star that will forever hold a special place in her heart.
Iga Swiatek and Jelena Djokovic mourn the loss of FRIENDS Star Matthew Perry
As a devoted fan of the iconic American television sitcom FRIENDS, Iga Swiatek explained how Matthew Perry’s presence on the big screen in the stadium momentarily pulled her focus away from the game at the 2022 US Open finals, saying, “It would take a lot of energy to not see the screen. And the only time I looked at the screen there was Matthew Perry in the audience. I love FRIENDS”
Following the news of Matthew Perry’s untimely demise on October 28, Swiatek expressed her sadness by dropping a sad face emoji in the comment section of Rennae Stubbs’ post on Matthew Perry.
🥺
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) October 29, 2023
Jelena Djokovic, wife of tennis legend Novak Djokovic, also shared her deep connection to FRIENDS and the impact of Matthew Perry’s character, Chandler Bing. In a heartfelt Instagram story, she conveyed her profound sadness over the passing of the beloved actor and remembered him through his work.
She recalled how the show FRIENDS had been a trusted companion during her nervous moments at tennis events. Jelena’s emotional connection to the show and Perry’s character was evident as she expressed how much she would miss him, stating “He’ll live in my house forever. Daily. It’s been like that for the last 15 years.”
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s sudden passing away, both Iga Swiatek and Jelena Djokovic’s heartfelt tributes highlight the enduring influence of artists and the impacts they have created through their beloved characters for years to come.