Jimmy Connors wonders if Iga Swiatek ‘lost a little confidence’ amidst Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance as World No.1

World No.2 Iga Swiatek had disappointing campaigns in the Sunshine Double tournaments as she lost to two teenagers.

Jimmy Connors wonders if Iga Swiatek ‘lost a little confidence’ amidst Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance as World No.1

Jimmy Connors, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via Lob and Smash, X/Jimmie48 Photography, Aryna Sabalenka's account)

Has Iga Swiatek really lost confidence in herself a bit? The tennis world is questioning the same amid her struggles to win trophies. Swiatek was a dominating force in recent years but now, she is struggling to even progress to the final. Many, including Swiatek herself, have blamed the doping case behind her fall from the top.

Amidst her trophy drought, Aryna Sabalenka is not only reaching finals and winning trophies but is also extending her lead in the WTA rankings. By reaching four finals and recently triumphing for the first time in her career at the Miami Open, the Belarusian claimed 1000 points. She sits in the top position with 10541 points and it’s only becoming difficult for Swiatek to close the gap.

Swiatek, who lost to teenager Alexandra Eala in the Miami Open quarterfinals, continues to sit in the second position with 7470 points. As she lost her last three matches to teenagers (Mirra Andreeva and Eala), eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Jimmy Connors advised the five-time Grand Slam champion to work harder.

I wonder if she has lost a little confidence. Sabalenka has taken over and a lot of notoriety and titles have fallen her way. I wonder if Iga sees that, so what do you do? You have to work harder.

Jimmy Connors said on the Advantage Connors podcast

Swiatek was denied a chance to win the Dubai Open when she lost to Andreeva in the quarterfinals. She then failed to defend her Indian Wells crown after defeat to the 17-year-old Russian. Eala then scripted history by knocking Swiatek out of the Miami Open.

When I would fall from No.1 behind [Bjorn] Borg or [Boris] Becker or [Ivan] Lendl, I would just pull up my bootstraps and get going and try to do anything you can to get back into the picture. Losing to Sabby [Sabalenka] is one thing but starting to lose to [a teenager] is a different story.

Jimmy Connors added

Rennae Stubbs hates Iga Swiatek’s service motion

Iga Swiatek parted ways with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and added Belgian coach Wim Fissette to work on different aspects of her game. But Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs expressed her disappointment over Swiatek’s serves and thinks she has not yet made any improvements on it.

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

I absolutely hate her service motion. It is so discombobulated. It’s like she takes the arm there, then the foot comes way too much to the front of her body. She should be way more side-on. She should have a lot more wrist snaps. Her serve has not developed at all and it’s so predictable.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Stubbs claimed Swiatek is losing because her serves are getting broken and thinks she gets hurt because of the “predictability” of her second serve. Andrea Petkovic, however, was not of the same opinion.

Petkovic, the guest on the aforementioned podcast, said Swiatek has worked so much that she sometimes gets confused. The German claimed that serve was never Swiatek’s weapon which is why she hasn’t yet developed it. Petkovic said Swiatek rather dictates the game from the baseline and with her team, she is trying to improve her serves.

Iga Swiatek will not play the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying rounds

Iga Swiatek took to her social media account to announce that she has withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying rounds. Swiatek said she has prioritized herself and her training and so will not travel to Radom to represent Poland.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Poland will host the qualifying rounds from April 10 to 12 and will play against Ukraine and Switzerland. Last year, they were defeated by eventual winner Italy in the semifinals.