Kim Clijsters Believes ‘Obsession’ with Winning Is Iga Swiatek’s Biggest Issue Amid Slump in Form

Iga Swiatek is once again dealing with a slump in form because, so far this season, she has only once been able to reach the semifinals, at the Italian Open, where eventual champion Elina Svitolina defeated her. In the recently concluded Wimbledon, the Pole suffered a third-round upset at the hands of Alexandra Eala, which made the latter the first Filipino in the Open Era to reach the fourth round of a Major.

It was her second back-to-back early-round exit in grass events following her opening-round defeat to Emma Navarro at the Bad Homburg Open, where, last year, she lost to Jessica Pegula in the final in what was also the first time she played a final on grass.

Well, Swiatek did not reach a championship match before that Bad Homburg event last year. Even on clay, the four-time French Open champion exited before reaching the final. But she eventually found her form during the grass swing, where perhaps no one expected her to win at Wimbledon, with a shock 6-0, 6-0 scoreline against Amanda Anisimova.

This year, Swiatek is once again struggling to find her form. Retired WTA player Kim Clijsters believes that her obsession with returning to her old level is Swiatek’s biggest problem.

To me, it almost feels like she wants it too much. It becomes such an obsession, and I feel it, maybe I’m completely off, but I feel it with the way that she walks in between the points, the way that she walks to the court, to the chair when the game is over. I think there’s obviously an expectation from the outside world, but I think a lot of it she just puts on herself because she has been so great and she has been dominant.

Kim Clijsters said on the Love All podcast

The six-time Grand Slam champion broke down in tears after overcoming Taylor Townsend in the first round of Wimbledon.

After her first-round win at Wimbledon, like, you can be the defending champion, but it just was almost such a relief that she got through that first round. And it just shows how much tension there is on winning and on trying to win another Slam.

Kim Clijsters added

Swiatek is next scheduled to play at the Canadian Open, where her run ended in the fourth round last year. But she went on to win in Cincinnati by defeating Jasmine Paolini. The 25-year-old last lifted a title at the 2025 Korea Open.

Martina Navratilova on Iga Swiatek’s biggest failure against Alexandra Eala

Alexandra Eala defeated Iga Swiatek for the second time in her career. Eala hogged the limelight for the first time after knocking out the Pole in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open. But Swiatek leveled the head-to-head record by beating her in the second round of last year’s Miami Open.

In their latest clash, after a tough first-set tie-break, Swiatek ended up losing the second set in convincing fashion. Former WTA player and 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova explained what Swiatek did wrong in the match.

Hit a lot of body serves into the Swiatek forehand or backhand, and she just could not figure out how to return better serves.  She did not get those break points, and she defended really well. And Swiatek, quite frankly, was not good emotionally. She was just so up and down.

Martina Navratilova said on Tennis Channel

Swiatek has yet to win a title at the Canadian Open and has reached just one semifinal, reaching the stage in 2023. Last year, she suffered a fourth-round exit.

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