Iga Swiatek lashes out at WTA calendar after shock defeat to Mirra Andreeva in Dubai
Mirra Andreeva became the youngest woman to reach the semifinals of the Dubai Open after a straight-set victory over World No.2 Iga Swiatek.
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Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva (Images via WTA/X)
Iga Swiatek was taking big strides toward her first title of the year. But a day after World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka‘s unexpected third-round exit, Swiatek too followed suit when 12th seed Mirra Andreeva knocked her out with scores of 6-3, 6-3.
Following the match, Swiatek blamed the lack of practice for her defeat. She thinks the reason why she is not able to produce consistent performances week after week is because of not getting enough time between tournaments.
Also, it’s not like some time ago that outside of, like, top-20 players, they were just getting destroyed more. Now, anybody can win these tournaments. It is like that since couple of years. But I feel like for sure the calendar is not helping. Again, like, we need to switch continents, we need to switch surfaces, we need to switch the balls. Yeah, it’s not easy. I’m not surprised.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
Before the World No.2, Sabalenka confessed that Australian tournaments took energy out of her and that she wasn’t able to focus and make the right decisions. In Dubai, she lost to 2025 ASB Classic champion Clara Tauson in straight sets. Swiatek, before Dubai, suffered a 6-3, 6-1 defeat in Doha, to Jelena Ostapenko, who also registered her fifth straight win over the 23-year-old.
Iga Swiatek wants to be coached by Aryna Sabalenka
Following the success of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic‘s collaboration, Iga Swiatek was asked which player she would like to add to her entourage. Although Djokovic is yet to win a title with Murray, he came close to his historic 25th Major at the Australian Open under the British legend. But his hamstring injury spoiled his plans.
Swiatek expressed her wish to hire former player Andrea Petkovic, before revealing that she wants to be coached by her fiercest rival Aryna Sabalenka. Petkovic is a former World No.9 from Germany, who retired in 2022 but hasn’t faced Swiatek in official events.
Well, Petkovic is not playing anymore, but I’ve heard she has a good eye. I’ve always liked her, so I think we’d get on well. Or maybe Aryna Sabalenka. She’s older than me, so maybe she’ll retire sooner than me. That would be fun.
Iga Swiatek told reporters
Sabalenka, who lifted the Brisbane International and failed to overcome Madison Keys in the Australian Open final, lost her opening-round match to Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open before her third-round defeat in Dubai. Both Sabalenka and Swiatek will next participate in Indian Wells.
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Gouri Das
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