Former WTA player concerned that Iga Swiatek’s ‘off-court issues’ are to blame for her disappointing results this season
Iga Swiatek has struggled on the court this season and has not won any title since the 2024 French Open.
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X @JJlovesTennis)
Iga Swiatek continues her quest for her first title since the 2024 Roland Garros at the Madrid Open. The Polish star has been in the spotlight this season after failing to defend two titles in the past two months. Former WTA player CoCo Vandeweghe now believes that some off-court issues might be the reason for her on-court struggles.
Swiatek began the year with optimism after reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, her best run at the event to date. In her first title defense in Qatar, she lost to Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals for the fifth time in her career. She was hoping to turn things around in Indian Wells and defend her title, but she failed to do so.
At the just concluded Stuttgart Open, she crashed out in the quarter-finals after losing to Ostapenko in three sets. Despite Swiatek being the best player on clay in the WTA, she failed to display her best tennis.
However, Swiatek has been one of the most vocal players about mental health and also goes with her psychologist to each tournament. She has often revealed how she feels the pressure of being a top player in the circuit.
Last year, she parted ways with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and partnered with Wim Fissette. CoCo Vandeweghe believes that these are some of the off-court signs that might be affecting Swiatek’s performance on the court.
What I am more concerned about, is that because she is one of these players that has been open about her mental health, she travels with a mental coach. What is going on between the two? Is there a new conversation going on? Is she trying to work on things and it’s not working? Plus, she is not with Tomasz [Wiktorowski] anymore. She is with Wim Fissette and somebody not from Poland. She has been very open and honest that she wants to stick with the Polish demographic. It’s more comfortable for her.
CoCo Vandeweghe said via Tennis Channel
Also, Swiatek was suspended for one month after testing positive for trimetazidine in August. The former World No.1 served her punishment but it has been criticized by current and former players as being too soft for the offense committed.
Iga Swiatek reveals her take on the ongoing debate about two-week and one-week tournaments
The most trending discussion among players this season has been about the difference between two-week and one-week WTA 1000 tournaments. Players have given conflicting answers about whether they prefer any of the tournament schedules, as more 1000-level events are now two weeks. However, Iga Swiatek admitted that she doesn’t think about the difference as she aims to adjust to the schedules.
Honestly, I’ve stopped thinking about that. You try to adapt to what we have each week. Events have been changed to longer ones for a while, so I’ve adjusted to this system, but I was also comfortable when we played one-week tournaments. I think my results haven’t changed either, so I don’t mind, I’m comfortable with both systems.
Iga Swiatek said via Madrid Open Press
Top players like Emma Raducanu have revealed their preference for two-week tournaments as it gives players enough time to rest after playing a match, whereas a one-week event is always jam-packed with matches almost every day.
Iga Swiatek faces tough test at the Madrid Open
Iga Swiatek, without a doubt, is the top favorite to win the Madrid Open. However, she was handed a tough draw as she hopes to defend her title. In fact, the World No.5 has struggled against top opponents and, on several occasions not played her best tennis in the latter stages of tournaments.
She opens her campaign against Alexandra Eala, who defeated her at the Miami Open last month. The Filipino star made her mark at the tournament and reached the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event. But she has only one clay court win, the same with Swiatek, who lost to Ostapenko in the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.
If Swiatek gets past Eala, she could face Linda Noskova in the third round and a potential meeting against Ostapenko in the Round of 16. Swiatek will need to be at her top game to scale through and claim her first title of the season.
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