‘Confused’ Iga Swiatek Makes ‘Worst Nightmare’ Admission After Shock Miami Upset: “So Many Bad Decisions”

Iga Swiatek has now lost four consecutive singles tournaments without reaching the quarterfinals.

‘Confused’ Iga Swiatek Makes ‘Worst Nightmare’ Admission After Shock Miami Upset: “So Many Bad Decisions”

Iga Swiatek (Image via X/iga archive)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek suffered an opening round defeat at the Miami Open, losing to Magda Linette.
  • This loss marks Swiatek's third consecutive early exit from a tournament, following three quarterfinal exits.
  • Swiatek expressed confusion and frustration over her performance, citing poor decision-making and high expectations.

Iga Swiatek‘s Miami Open run ended in a disastrous fashion. After three quarterfinal exits in her previous three tournaments, Swiatek this time suffered an opening round defeat at the hands of countrywoman Magda Linette, losing with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 scoreline.

This marked Linette’s second consecutive win over a World No.3 at Hard Rock Stadium, as last year, she knocked out then-ranked three Coco Gauff in the fourth round of the Miami event. Since the 2025 WTA Finals, Swiatek has now suffered back-to-back defeats on three occasions.

In Riyadh last year, she lost two round-robin matches to Amanda Anisimova and eventual champion Elena Rybakina. Then, prior to Poland’s maiden United Cup win, Swiatek lost to America’s Coco Gauff in the semifinal and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the final. And before her Miami exit, Elina Svitolina knocked her out in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells.

I feel like I carry a lot of expectations when I’m on the court, and I need to get rid of them because my game has not been good enough to have any expectations. I’m a bit confused, but I’ll just work hard to get it back. I know I have it in me, I just lost it for a second.

Iga Swiatek told reporters after her Miami upset

Swiatek will next be seen in action during the European clay swing. She will be playing in Stuttgart, where last year, eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko defeated her in the quarterfinal.

This is the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have. Dropping in matches in level like this. I need to live through this and figure it out. I’ve always been an over-thinker, but lately it’s just been so intense. It’s hard for me to get rid of many thoughts I have, and this used to be my strength. I honestly played my best when I didn’t think much. Now I make so many bad decisions that it’s hard not to think. The stress comes in, the body gets so tense, and things get much harder.

Iga Swiatek added

The last time Swiatek won a title was at the 2025 Korea Open after overcoming Ekaterina Alexandrova. Last year, she played four finals, winning titles in Seoul, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati.

Andrea Petkovic wants to see a four-player rivalry on the WTA tour

In recent months, two players have dominated in big events: World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and World No.2 Rybakina. After losing last year’s WTA Finals and this year’s Australian Open, the Belarusian finally got her revenge on the Kazakh ace after a thrilling Indian Wells final clash.

Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek
L-R: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Bastien Fachan, Tiempo De Tenis, US Open Tennis, iga archive)

While different players are emerging as champions in big events on the women’s tour, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are mostly dominating on the men’s tour. Former player Andrea Petkovic thinks the WTA needs a “real, defining” rivalry like the men’s tour, but also thinks players like Swiatek and Coco Gauff would continue to challenge the top two.

I wouldn’t make it a direct comparison to Alcaraz vs Sinner, though. I still think players like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and even Jessica Pegula can break through that rivalry more than others can on the men’s side. Part of that is the format – best-of-five sets in men’s tennis makes dominance more consistent. If the women played best-of-five, I think it might look different.

Andrea Petkovic said on Tennis Channel

Gauff and Swiatek, though they are winning big titles, have not been very consistent in recent months. Since winning the 2025 Wuhan Open, Gauff has made just one semifinal, in this year’s Dubai Tennis Championships, losing the match to Svitolina. In Miami, she will face Elisabetta Cocciaretto to start her campaign.

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