Former World No.9 issues ‘locker room’ warning to Iga Swiatek after Miami Open defeat to teenager Alexandra Eala

World No.2 Iga Swiatek shockingly fell to World No.140 Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.

Former World No.9 issues ‘locker room’ warning to Iga Swiatek after Miami Open defeat to teenager Alexandra Eala

Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Iga Swiatek is struggling to win trophies. The former World No.1, who used to be a formidable player in almost every tournament she played, is suffering early exit and shock defeats.

At the Miami Open, her hunt for her first tour-level title since the 2024 Roland Garros, continued. She succumbed to a straight-set defeat to teen sensation Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals, registering her third defeat against a player outside the top 100 on the WTA main draw events. Following her exit, former World No.9 CoCo Vandeweghe shared her perspective on Swiatek’s inconsistent season and urged her to find ways to regroup when she’s losing.

YouTube video

The emotions start bleeding, she gets down on herself really quickly and she hasn’t found a rhythm of getting herself back into check. You see other people with temperamental moments and they can get themselves back into check, whether it’s [Aryna] Sabalenka smashing a racket and then it’s, ‘Hey I am back in, I am locked in’.

CoCo Vandeweghe said on Tennis Channel Live Podcast

Roger Federer‘s former coach Paul Annacone previously stated in the podcast about his surprise over how a former World No.1 and a winner of multiple Grand Slam titles like Swiatek failed to capitalize on the lead of 4-2 in the second set. Vandeweghe shared what would happen if Swiatek’s standards continue to dip.

Iga has to figure that out otherwise the locker room is going to start saying World No.2 is beatable…and not only beatable but multiple times she has been beatable throughout tournaments she has always done well at and consistent at.

CoCo Vandeweghe added

Only Swiatek knows if the problem is the hectic schedule or the doping scandal. Swiatek, since failing the drug test in August, struggled in almost every tournament. Even she admitted the same while explaining her controversial conduct during the semifinal against eventual winner Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells.

Rick Macci is not worried about Iga Swiatek

The tennis world will surely expect to see Iga Swiatek end her trophy drought on clay. The clay swing will kick start following the Miami Open and Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci said Swiatek will be all right on the clay court events.

Iga Swiatek Miami Open 2025
Iga Swiatek (Image via X @JJlovesTennis)

Iga will be ok as No Place Like Home On Clay. But her serve has stayed the same for years and if modified biomechanically could get more Free lunches and more juice on the second. Players even like Eala that play clean/ flat can munch on the second serve and break more often.

Rick Macci wrote on X

Check out his post here:

Swiatek had lifted three of her five titles last year on the red dirt, including her fourth French Open trophy. She beat World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in both the Madrid Open and Italian Open finals and went past Jasmine Paolini to complete a three-peat at the Roland Garros.

Last year, the World No.2 also inched closer to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics but Qinwen Zheng handed her a defeat in the semifinals. Swiatek later took home the bronze medal.

Iga Swiatek’s season so far

Iga Swiatek started her campaign for the 2025 season at the United Cup, helping Poland reach the final, which they lost. She then suffered a three-set defeat in a closely-contested semifinal against Madison Keys at the Australian Open.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via WTA/X)

Swiatek then failed to complete a four-peat at the Qatar Open due to defeat in the semifinals, before eventual winner Mirra Andreeva ended her run in the Dubai Open quarterfinal. Swiatek then entered the Indian Wells as the defending champion but she again fell to the Russian, this time, in the quarterfinals.