Iga Świątek’s Struggles at the Miami Open: A Mental Game?
Iga Świątek described herself as experiencing “the worst nightmare a tennis player can have” after a stunning defeat to compatriot Magda Linette at the Miami Open. The loss ended an incredible run of 73 consecutive opening-match wins, a streak dating back to 2021. Linette, ranked No. 50 in the world, secured a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory, leaving Świątek questioning her mental approach to the game.
“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,” Świątek confessed to reporters. This defeat marks a low point in a season that has seen mixed results for the Polish star.
A History of Dominance Interrupted
Prior to this setback, Świątek hadn’t lost a match after winning the first set 6-0 or 6-1 since March 2019. The hiring of coach Wim Fissette at the end of the 2023 season aimed to strike a balance between baseline patience and aggressive play, culminating in a Wimbledon title. However, consistency has been elusive. Her ranking has slipped to No. 3.
Świątek has openly expressed frustration with her team, including psychologist Daria Abramowicz, a dynamic highlighted after her quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Interestingly, that loss followed one of her best performances of the year – a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win over Karolína Muchová.
The Collapse and the Streaks
Unlike recent patterns of implosion when facing adversity, this loss to Linette felt different to Świątek – a complete collapse. Her ascent to the top of the sport has been defined by remarkable streaks. She once held the longest WTA win-streak of the 21st century, winning 37 matches in a row in 2022. Before a defeat to Maria Sakkari at the Qatar Open, she had won 109 consecutive WTA 1000 matches after winning the first set. Between 2022 and 2024, she compiled streaks of 44 and 56 matches without dropping a set after winning the first.
“Unconsciously or consciously it’s hard for me to change things, and then my tennis kind of collapses. So I need to work now to get back from that, because for sure I haven’t felt things like that for like five years,” Świątek explained. She feels burdened by expectations, acknowledging her current game doesn’t warrant them.
Looking Ahead: A Return to Form
Świątek emphasizes the need for small, consistent changes and discipline, echoing her sentiments from a 2025 interview. She recognizes the process will take time and effort. A potentially extended break before the clay-court season, beginning at the Stuttgart Open in Germany, could provide a much-needed opportunity for physical and mental recovery.
While clay has historically been Świątek’s strongest surface – with four of her six Grand Slam titles at the French Open – she experienced a dip in form on the surface last year, failing to win a title and losing in the French Open semifinals. She hopes the surface can offer a path back to her best form.
As Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic notes, Świątek will need to rediscover the mental fortitude that propelled her to the top of the sport.
