Top tennis journalist reveals concerning reason behind Iga Swiatek’s ‘nervousness’ during Madrid Open after defeat to Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff toppled Iga Swiatek to register a third consecutive victory over the Pole and end her Madrid Open title defense.

Top tennis journalist reveals concerning reason behind Iga Swiatek’s ‘nervousness’ during Madrid Open after defeat to Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk)

Before the Madrid Open, Iga Swiatek attended the funeral of her grandfather if reports are to be believed. Swiatek is nearly unbeatable on clay but in Madrid, she registered her worst loss since the 2019 Roland Garros defeat to Simona Halep.

The Pole lost to Coco Gauff in 64 minutes inside Caja Magica on Thursday (May 1). The match saw her yelling obscenities and crying uncontrollably during a change of ends before her 6-1, 6-1 defeat to the 2023 US Open champion. Following her defeat, French tennis journalist Benoit Maylin stated that Swiatek’s nervousness throughout the first clay-court WTA 1000 tournament of the season could be due to her grandfather’s demise.

Before burying [Novak] Djokovic and Swiatek after Novak’s strange behavior and Iga’s apparent nervousness, it should be noted that both are going through a complicated period. Several of Djoko’s close friends have health problems, and Iga lost her grandfather just before the tournament.

Benoit Maylin wrote on X

Swiatek had paid a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather on Grandfather’s Day during her campaign in this year’s Australian Open, where she registered a three-set defeat to eventual winner Madison Keys. After Maylin’s tweet, Polish journalist Michal Chojecki wrote that he had asked her PR manager Daria Sulgostowska to confirm the same.

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Swiatek last won a title at the 2024 Roland Garros, prior to which, she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in both the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals. These were three of the five titles she lifted last year.

But this year, she has reached the quarterfinals of every tournament she played but hasn’t yet reached the summit clash. She in fact last played a final in last year’s French Open. Her defeat to Gauff was also her first on clay in their six encounters.

Coco Gauff reveals the mentality that helped her knock Iga Swiatek out

Coco Gauff has progressed to her first singles final since winning the 2024 WTA Finals. Prior to the Madrid Open, she also failed to reach a semifinal this season as since losing the Australian Open quarterfinal, the 21-year-old made early exits in the next five tournaments she played.

Coco Gauff 1
Coco Gauff (Image via X/The Tennis Podcast)

Gauff entered the semifinal with a 3-11 head-to-head record over Iga Swiatek. After improving her win-loss record, Gauff revealed the mentality that helped her secure a berth in her first Madrid Open final.

The mentality that I had throughout the whole match, I think I was aggressive and played with margin. Maybe it wasn’t her best level today, but I kind of forced her into some awkward positions. I’m really happy with how I played today.

Coco Gauff said during her on-court interview

Swiatek entered the Madrid Open following her three-set defeat to eventual winner Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open. Ostapenko, who later denied Sabalenka her first title in the German city, recorded a 6-0 head-to-head record against the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Coco Gauff denies Iga Swiatek to set up third Madrid Open final against Aryna Sabalenka

The American’s final opponent is Aryna Sabalenka, who eliminated Elina Svitolina in straight sets in the semifinals. Sabalenka has clinched two clay-court titles, both in Madrid in 2021 and 2023.

Aryna Sabalenka (3)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

In 2023, she went past Iga Swiatek in the final. Had Swiatek defeated Gauff, she would have set up a Madrid Open final clash with Sabalenka for the third consecutive time.

Gauff has met the Belarusian nine times and edges her 5-4 in the head-to-head record. She also won the last time they faced each other, in the semifinal of the 2024 WTA Finals. The 26-year-old is bidding to win her third title of the season.

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