Iga Swiatek suffers earliest exit at Rome Open in 4 years

I went into this Rome Open with lower expectations after the Madrid loss, but with the hope that something might just click at a tournament she's had so much success. 

My hopes were raised with her first round victory over Cocciarretto, but quickly dashed when it become apparent it would be more of the same today. 

Serve completely let her down in the first set (double faulted in both times to give Collins a double break) so she really didn't have to do much to win it. 

At least Iga avoided the bagel and lost it 1/6. The 2nd set was much closer, with more fight and Iga did have chances to take it, just couldn't do so ended up losing it 5/7. 

With this loss the worst has happened and Iga will drop in the rankings from number 2 to #4 (a spot she held on to for 3 years) . This also marks Iga's 9th defeat this season (which equals her entire total from last year).

The last time Iga lost this early was five years ago to Arantxa Rus
 

She was 18 at the time. She has been virtually unbeatable here winning the title three of the past four years. Before today Iga had won an astounding 21 of her past 22 matches at Foro Italico -- that’s a winning percentage of 91.3 -- second only to Chris Evert’s 92.3. 

So yeah this one hurts quite a bit.

It's hard to say what the problem is honestly. 

Whether it's just Iga losing her mental edge, and the opponents knowing Iga is vulnerable and lacking in confidence. 

Being shaken by all the events of the past year (Olympics loss & doping suspension) 

Or if it's some deeper issue we're not privy to. 

Only Iga truly knows. 

I said after her loss in Miami, that I'd start to worry if we see the same issues on clay as on hard court (and give her a pass in Madrid due to the altitude). 

After this latest loss I'm equal parts worried and sad. 

Iga is most definitely in a slump something that every player goes through (often more then once in their career) but something which Iga is definitely not familiar with in her very young career. 

Going into Roland Garros this year with no titles will be new experience for both her fans and Iga herself. 

I'll always have faith in Iga when it comes to clay and while I still have hope, I'm not certain that she can solve whatever is going on in the next 2 weeks. 

My only hope is that the fall in the rankings will take at least a bit of the pressure off Iga (which she has been clearly feeling quite a bit) and she might play a bit looser knowing that while she's still favourite due to being the defending champions she's not THE favourite based on form. 

Just writing that last paragraph almost physically hurt. Roland Garros has been synonymous with Iga for basically the past 4 years and to suddenly not have that be more of certainty is very jarring. 

And it really dampens my enthusiasm for the Parisian clay this year. 

If Iga is unable to defend her French Open crown she'll most likely fall to #8 or 9 in live rankings. But that's neither here nor there at the moment. 

Right now I simply want to see Iga play freely again and see and feel the joy that she has playing this sport because right now even that seems to be missing. And as a long time fan, it's quite tough to watch.

Having been a fan of this sport for many years I'm aware of how many peaks and valley's a players career can have so I'm by no means giving up on Iga and will continue to support her in this tough time. 

Because I know someone with her talent, will come out stronger on the other side. Even if it may take some time to get there. I believe she will. 

This does not in any way diminish all her previous astounding accomplishments (which no other Polish player has ever even gotten close to).

So keep your chin up Iga, we're still with you through thick and thin. There will be better times ahead. 

Jazda!.

Iga Swiatek hopes to start moving better after Madrid loss

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek's struggles continue.

Again unable to move well on the court, the five-time Grand Slam champion extended her streak of not reaching a final after a demoralizing 6-1, 6-1 loss to Coco Gauff in the semifinals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

Swiatek hasn't gotten past the last-four in any tournament since winning the French Open—for the fourth time—last June. She hadn't won just two or fewer games in a match on any surface since 2019.

"I feel like I haven't been moving well," Swiatek said. "The tennis also was like on and off, you know, for most of the tournament. So I wasn't really sure what I have in my tool box. I didn't even have a plan B because nothing was working today."

The second-ranked Swiatek said "everything kind of collapsed" because of her difficulties moving on the court.

"I feel like I wasn't even in the right place with my feet, you know, before the shots," she said. "Yeah, I wish I would have moved better, because I think that would get me an opportunity to bounce back, because this is usually what happens. But today for sure I didn't move well."

Swiatek lost six games in a row for the second straight day. She had recovered from losing the first set 0-6 to Madison Keys on Wednesday's quarterfinals. In her opening match in Madrid, Swiatek trailed teenager Alexandra Eala a set and a break before bouncing back.

"I didn't play well even on these matches that I won," Swiatek said. "I think I pushed kind of with my head, you know, for more than I even should, tennis-wise."

The last time Swiatek won only two or fewer games on any surface was a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Birmingham in 2019.

The 23-year-old Pole said "hopefully one day it's going to click, but I'm not expecting anything, I'm just going to try to work" on trying to move better and give herself greater chances.

"For sure I feel heavy, and you are like forcing everything instead of going by intuition and by itself, you know," she said. "Because I know how I can move, and usually I didn't have to think about it much. But for last weeks it hasn't been that easy. I've been like forcing myself to go lower, to be more precise with my feet, because it's not going by itself."

Swiatek said she didn't think her struggles moving were linked to a lack of self confidence.

"No, because I felt fine today," she said. "I'm not a different player than I was like for past years in terms of my attitude or my emotions."

Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, has been nearly unbeatable on clay, according to the WTA. Only Steffi Graf (.750) has a higher win rate against Top 10 opponents than Swiatek (.700) in the previous 35 years.

Swiatek was the defending champion at the Madrid Open.

tennis.com

Defending champion Iga Swiatek falls in the semis of Madrid Open

 All due respect to Coco Gauff and her abilities but it was very clear today that Iga was going through something. 

I thought it might be a crises of confidence due to something personal, or perhaps still a bit of a residual effect of everything that happened last year (losing at the Olympics and the ban suspension). 

As it turns out (assuming the media reports are true) Iga was dealing with something very personal indeed, the loss of her Grandpa. And even having to attend his funeral right before this tournament. 

She did mention going home to take care of something of a personal nature. 

So now it all makes sense. 

The fact she was able to battle and even play at all with everything going on is worthy of nothing but respect. 

I hope she has someone to lean on at such a tough time and that her team is giving her everything she needs. 

All this coupled with the mental pressure  of the sport and having to defend so many points certainly doesn't help (no wonder she broke down in tears on court today). 

Just goes to show how we often forget that athletes are human and we as fans have no idea what goes on in their lives off the court and how and when something will effect them.  

Maybe the slower conditions of Rome with no altitude will allow Iga's game to click a bit more and at least bring her a little joy. 

But all that is secondary at the moment. 

My heart truly goes out to Iga having to go to Rome and try and defend yet another title (when I'm sure she'd rather be home grieving  over a loved one). 

Deepest heartfelt condolences Iga, stay strong. We're with you.♥

Iga Swiatek battles past Keys to get back to Madrid semis

 

MADRID -- Iga Swiatek has been far from her invincible self at the Mutua Madrid Open. As she progressed to the quarterfinals here, she uncharacteristically dropped sets to younger players Alexandra Eala and Diana Shnaider.

And then came Wednesday’s shocker. Swiatek is an accomplished baker -- her bagels are world-renowned -- but No. 5 seed Madison Keys took the first set, 6-0, in a scant 24 minutes.



Swiatek, however, is a four-time Roland Garros champion for a number of significant reasons. The World No. 2 wins nearly 90 percent of her matches on clay and on Wednesday, those instincts kicked in on the way to a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.

“Honestly, it was one of the weirdest matches I’ve ever played,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview. “I didn’t feel like [the first set] was that bad. I felt the ball well -- it just went super long.

“I tried to play a bit shorter, and with some mistakes by Maddy, the momentum changed in the end. I’m happy that I did it.”

Coco next up: The triumph sent Swiatek into Thursday’s semifinals against No. 4 seed Coco Gauff, who reeled off nine of the last 10 games in her quarterfinal victory over No. 7 seed Mirra Andreeva.

Swiatek is 11-3 lifetime against Gauff, but Gauff has won their last two meetings, including this year at United Cup. However, Gauff is yet to beat Swiatek on clay.

Stat corner: The unforced errors were the story of the match: 35 for Keys, 25 for Swiatek.

Swiatek now leads the head-to-head 5-2 -- and she’s 4-0 on clay against Keys.

This is Swiatek’s 20th semifinal in 36 WTA 1000 appearances. She’s only the third player to win her first six completed clay-court quarterfinals in those elite events, joining Serena Williams and Simona Halep.

The last time they played, Keys took down World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She went on to win her first Grand Slam singles title, beating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

But that was on a hard court. Clay changes the dynamic dramatically.

Match moments: Defending champion Swiatek was looking to reach three consecutive semifinals in Madrid, something previously achieved only by Maria Sharapova.

But when Swiatek dropped the first set without winning a game, it was the first time that happened to the Polish player in nearly four years -- against Daria Kasatkina on the grass in 2021 Eastbourne. That’s a staggering stretch of 625 completed sets without a shutout. Swiatek committed 10 unforced errors, won 29 percent of her service points -- and a total of only nine points.

The second set was an almost complete reversal, with Swiatek looking much more comfortable. Keys, who had only two unforced errors in the first set, was charged with 15 in the second. Swiatek broke the American's serve twice, and she converted her second set point when a Keys forehand return found the net.

As the match progressed, Swiatek’s superior movement became more of a deciding factor. The first break of the third set occurred with Keys serving at 2-2: after saving two break points, Swiatek won a marvelous point with a lunging backhand volley followed by a Keys forehand into the net.

Attacking Keys’ backhand with regularity, Swiatek succeeded in opening up the court. Even when Keys got a decent look at a forehand, it often let her down. It was a backhand, though, that cost her a second service break, and Swiatek served for the match at 5-2. The Pole converted her second match point when a Keys forehand sailed out.

“[Keys] was serving great, and in every service game she got like two, three points by aces or some amazing serves,” Swiatek said, recalling the first set. “So when I didn't get them back I had no chance to win a point. Then, when I didn’t hold my serve, obviously, yeah, it became complicated.

“But that's why it's good that we have second sets to just change something up. And maybe, yeah, I feel like for sure I started serving better and that helped me."

wtatennis.com

Well, if I thought yesterday's match was strange it had nothing on this one. 

As Iga herself admitted it's the weirdest match she's played in her career (certainly on clay). 

Iga got bageled for the first time in 6 years on her favourite surface.

 I wish I could say it was because Madison Keys was playing lights out tennis, but it was more Iga unable to find the court and instead committing error after error in key moments of the games. 

Even Madison Keys was surprised by how easily she won it. 

So surprised in fact that I think in the 2nd set she expected to win it on Iga's errors alone. But when Iga cut out her errors and started putting balls in court it was Keys who was suddenly error prone. 

A pretty match this was not. 

Iga did eventually do what I previously mentioned yesterday and that's move Keys around and use her spin. As soon as she did that the match turned around. 

I'm still not quite sure what happened in that first set, whether it was Iga still thinking about the Aussie Open  semi final earlier this year and just feeling paralyzed and unable to play her game. 

But in the 2nd set she finally seemed to remember  that this was clay and Keys has never actually won a match against her on it (Keys did help things along with her own errors but still). 

So that's another ugly win in the books. And a 3rd consecutive 3 setter for Iga on clay in the same tournament (wondering if that's ever actually happed for Iga seems like a first). 

Sometimes in this sport it's not how you start but how you finish and in the end 

I'm proud of Iga for keeping it together despite having a bad day and turning things around in her favor. If winning after being bageled doesn't give her confidence I'm not sure what will. 

Gauff who managed to beat Andreeva is next for Iga.

Another opponent who beat Iga this year but who is yet to beat her on clay. 

If Iga can manage to beat Gauff tomorrow and finally reach a final in 2025 that'll really go a long way confidence wise and maybe help unlock some more familiar form.

Knowing that she can still win despite not having her top form could be huge for the rest of the clay season (and perhaps most importantly pre-Roland Garros).

I admit I haven't been watching Gauff's matches in Madrid at all because up until this tournament her form has been more horrendous than Iga's.

I'm mentally preparing myself for another strange meeting tomorrow. 

But staying positive and believing in one point and one match at the time.

Jazda Iga, things can only get better from here. Keep going. 

Iga Swiatek battles past Schnaider to make it 3 straight Madrid quarterfinals

A day after a nationwide power outage caused fourth-round action at the Mutua Madrid Open to be suspended, Iga Swiatek got normal service back on track to open Tuesday's rescheduled play -- but only after surviving a serious scare.


The No. 2 seed continued her title defense with a 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 defeat of No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider in 2 hours and 34 minutes. After enjoying a 22-minute first-set whitewash, Swiatek was forced to battle hard, saving 11 out of 13 break points over the course of the contest.

Swiatek has yet to lose before the quarterfinals in seven tournaments this year -- but she has also not gone past the semifinals since Roland Garros last year. In the last eight, she will face Australian Open champion and No. 5 seed Madison Keys, who defeated No. 19 seed Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3. It will be their first meeting since Swiatek fell to the American from match point up in the Australian Open semifinals; she still holds a 4-2 head-to-head lead, including 3-0 on clay (all in straight sets). Keys, who won just three matches across her first nine appearances in Madrid, has now made the last eight for a second year in a row.

Four-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek has now reached 17 consecutive clay-court quarterfinals, a streak that dates back to her third-round loss to Ashleigh Barty at Madrid 2021. It is the longest such streak since Martina Hingis made 19 clay-court quarterfinals in a row between Hilton Head 1997 and Hamburg 2002.

From smooth sailing to narrow escape: A much-anticipated first meeting between the pair did not initially deliver. Swiatek conceded just seven points in the first set as Shnaider, slow to settle, coughed up 13 unforced errors.

But despite the lopsided score, two stats were in the 20-year-old's favor. She came into the contest with a perfect 7-0 career record against Grand Slam champions -- and the last three times she had lost a set 6-0, she ended up winning the match anyway. Shnaider performed a hard reset at the start of the second set, winning the first barnburner of a point with a deft volley, and broke Swiatek for 2-0.

Shnaider held break points in all but one Swiatek service game in the second set -- 11 in total. While the Pole's error count increased sharply -- she committed 34 in the second set alone -- she played her best tennis with her back to the wall, and saved nine of those. But despite Shnaider's frustration at being pegged back repeatedly, she displayed real fortitude to shrug off the missed opportunities and keep hammering away with her swashbuckling left-handed forehand.

Both players had chances to take control of the decider. From 1-1, four straight games featured at least one break point. Only one was converted -- by Swiatek, who unleashed on a backhand return to move up 3-2. Another terrific backhand from the Pole fended off a break-back point in the subsequent game, and that lead proved decisive.

In Swiatek's words: "I think I moved better, and I spin the ball a little bit more," she said of her deciding-set play. "In second set it got pretty windy, and I didn't move my legs properly. I played some shots like not being ready, you know, so for sure that kind of kept my rhythm off. And then Diana also used her chances, and she was more proactive than in the first set. So I think it was a mix of different things."

For Swiatek, her clutch performance on break points was down to playing them like any other, rather than specifically raising her level.

"I treat every point the same way," she said. "I don't feel like I need to change anything on break points. I just trust that it's going to work. That mindset, I think, helps with tension a little bit."

This was a bit of a weird one, a bagel set from Iga followed by a lost tiebreaker to go to 3. 

First set I think Diana was adjusting to Iga's game and in the 2nd she settled down, took advantage of Iga's unforced errors and played more of hers.

 

3rd set was a bit more even. 

Iga did have an awful lot of breakpoints to defend (13 in total 2 of which Diana was able to take). 

Definitely another one of those matches where Iga won ugly. 

It wasn't the most high quality match over all very few winner between both. 

I'll chuck this up to it being their first meeting those are always tricky and a bit strange.

Maybe these types of matches is exactly what Iga needs to get her level and confidence back on her favourite surface. 

Not playing pretty but still believing and using your experience and skills to win anyway. 

And she did just that, stayed calm even when things weren't going her way.

Madison Keys next. 

Definitely a challenge given her confidence with winning Australian Open. But still a big chance for Iga to avenge that semi final loss in January.

If Madison serves well it'll definitely put a lot of pressure on Iga, but one thing Iga has always been able to do well on the red stuff is move Madison around, so I think as long as she does that and keeps it close score wise it'll go well. 

It is the one surface Madison has yet to beat her on all her other wins were on fast hard court surfaces on home turf.

Iga really hasn't had the easiest draw here (unlike Sabalenka) and will have to slay a lot of her demon's if she is to get back to the final. 

Keys and then possibly Andreeva in the semis the 2 women who have beaten her this year.

But we take it one point and one match at a time. 

Jazda Iga, you've got this!.

Opta Ace stats

78 - Including the BJK/Fed Cup, Iga Swiatek remains undefeated at WTA level in matches where she has claimed a 6-0 set, moving to a career win-loss record of 78-0. Unscathed.

72.2 - Since 1990, Iga Swiatek (72.2%, 83-32) trails only Steffi Graf (82.1%) and Serena Williams (75.3%) for winning percentage against WTA top 20 opponents – minimum 10 matches. Benchmark.

Iga Swiatek improves to 8 straight wins at Madrid Open

 

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has frequently had her hands full with Linda Noskova in their rivalry, but in their latest clash, at the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday evening, Swiatek saw things go mostly her own way.

Defending champion Swiatek of Poland defeated No. 31 seed Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 to win her eighth straight Madrid match and clinch a spot in this fortnight's Round of 16. Swiatek, also a Madrid finalist in 2023, is 15-2 lifetime at the tournament.

"I’m happy with my focus and my attitude today," Swiatek said on court, after her win. "It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but I’m happy I just kept calm, even when Linda broke me. It was a good match for sure."

Rip-roaring rivalry: Swiatek's first two rounds in Madrid have been against rising youngsters who have troubled her of late. After her opening-round bye this week, Swiatek had to come back from a set down to oust Alexandra Eala, the 19-year-old Filipina who knocked her out of last month's Miami Open.

Her reward was another meeting with 20-year-old Noskova, who had already taken Swiatek out of the 2024 Australian Open en route to the Czech's first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Swiatek had won all three of their WTA main-draw meetings since then, but that fact requires more context. In their last two meetings at WTA events, at 2024 Miami and 2025 Doha, Swiatek needed to squeak through a pair of two-and-a-half-hour battles to best Noskova. Those gripping matches were both decided by 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 scorelines in Swiatek's favor.

The potential difference-maker in Madrid? This was their first meeting off of hard court. Swiatek wins nearly 90 percent of her matches when she plays a WTA 1000 main draw on clay (35-4 after today). Noskova kept the first set close until the last moment, but Swiatek won more of the decisive points to tip things her way and ease to victory.

"Every match that [Noskova and I] played was really with high intensity, and really good quality," Swiatek said. "I knew it’s going to be a challenge, but I just kept being focused on myself. And we kind of know each other’s game. ... I’m happy that I was more solid at the end."

Match moments: On Saturday, Noskova deployed the powerful groundstrokes that have bothered Swiatek throughout their head-to-head. Even when Swiatek found deep returns to break for 4-3, the Pole still had to stave off a break point in the next game before consolidating.

At 5-4, Swiatek battled back from 0-30 down to pick up set points, but Noskova ripped backhand winners on the defending champion’s first two opportunities. However, Swiatek forced an error from the Czech to convert her third set point and clinch the hard-fought one-set lead.

Once Swiatek broke Noskova in the opening game of the second set, Saturday’s test became far more routine than the pair of marathons that preceded it in their rivalry. Swiatek was unfazed the rest of the way and closed out the win after 1 hour and 17 minutes, holding a perfect 4-for-4 break point conversion rate in the match.

Another rising player awaits: In the Round of 16, Swiatek will face No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider, who has barely lost games this week. After her first-round bye, Shnaider beat Katie Volynets 6-1, 6-2, then dispatched Anastasija Sevastova 6-0, 6-0.

This will be Swiatek's first career meeting against 21-year-old left-hander Shnaider.

wtatennis.com

I love it when I'm right :). 

A much more assured, clean performance from Iga today. 

It was honestly so good to see. 

It's been a while (maybe start of the season) since I last saw Iga truly happy with her own performance. And I definitely saw it at the end of the match when she looked towards her camp. 

She stayed calm throughout and just worked the point using her athletic ability and speed to her advantage effectively (as only she can) 

It reminded me exactly why I love watching her play on this surface. 

I've said this before, but I trust Iga on clay more than any other, this match was the perfect example of why as well.

Feels like she found her rhythm and unlocked some much needed confidence and trust in her game with this win. 

With that confidence and trust everything else worked, her serve helped get her free points when needed in pressure moments, and her forehand and shots were all going in with minimal errors. 

Point by point she got better as the match went on. 

Next up for Iga will be another first meeting with someone younger than her Diana Schnaider. 

These match up are always tricky, because neither player knows what to expect. 

It's exciting for the viewers, and for Iga fans equally as nerve wrecking.

It'll be intriguing to see how their games match up, especially on Iga's best surface. 

My hope is that Iga's experience will once again help get her through. 

Jazda Iga!.

One point and one match at a time you're getting there. Keep believing. 

Opta ace stats

15 - Iga Swiatek has registered 15 wins in Women’s Singles at the Madrid Open from 17 matches, equalling Serena Williams for the fewest matches to 15 wins at this event since the inception of the tournament. Triumph.

And one from social media

Iga Swiatek's career record in the big clay events 

Madrid: 15-2 (88.2%) 

Rome: 20-2 (90.9%) 

Roland Garros: 35-2 (94.6%) 

Overall: 70-6 (92.1%)

Iga Swiatek overcomes a rough start in Madrid opener

 

Defending champion Iga Swiatek avoided a second loss to Alexandra Eala in a WTA 1000 event in as many months with a three-set comeback at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday, coming from a set and a break down to top the teenager from the Philippines, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Swiatek lost in a surprising straight sets to Eala in the quarterfinals in Miami, and in Madrid, she looked on course for another stunner as she fell behind a set and a break, 6-4, 3-2. But this time, the World No. 2 steadied, and won five consecutive games from 4-4 in the second set before finishing off the comeback in 2 hours and 15 minutes.


Swiatek avoided her earliest loss at a WTA 1000 event in nearly four years, having last lost in the second round of a tournament of this magnitude at the 2021 Cincinnati Open. She has won 58 consecutive opening matches at Hologic WTA Tour events, including the United Cup and WTA Finals, dating back to a first round-robin loss to Maria Sakkari at the 2021 year-end championships.

"It wasn't easy to get into the rhythm and feel the right timing, so I'm happy that I was just patient," Swiatek said post-match.

Swiatek made 25 of her 57 unforced errors in the match in the first set, and ended the contest with 40 total winners. She cleaned up her serve -- she won 85% of points on her first serve after failing to crack 60% in either of the first two sets -- and return, too, eventually breaking Eala seven times on 16 opportunities.

Reflecting on the rematch afterwards, Eala confessed: "I’m happy with the match, happy with how I competed," she said. "Obviously up a set and a break is a good situation to be in, but you have to remember that there’s another person on the other side of the court. More so, a multiple Roland Garros champion. She did well also … Things to take back and to learn.

"What was different [between Madrid and Miami] was that, in my opinion, was that she executed better in the important moments, and she had a little higher level than me in specific moments of the match."

Bidding to reach her first final of the season, Swiatek will next face another opponent who has troubled her in the past: No. 31 seed Linda Noskova. Though Swiatek has won three straight meetings against Noskova since losing to her at last year's Australian Open, two of those matches have gone three sets. 

And if Swiatek wins that match, she may be breathing easier knowing that Jelena Ostapenko, against whom she is 0-6, lost against her fellow Latvian Anastasija Sevastova while Swiatek was in the midst of beating Eala.

wtatennis.com

It was a rough start to the Madrid defense for Iga. 

While young Eala played well Iga give her a lot of free points by constantly bashing and overpowering the ball. 

Just couldn't find her rhythm from the get go.

Can't remember the last time I've seen Iga make 57 unforced errors on clay. 

Once she remembered to be more patient and work the point instead of going for out right winners the match slowly turned around and it was Eala who started to feel the pressure. 

In the end it was really Iga's experience on clay that won her the match I think (coming back from a break down twice in the 2nd set). 

A lot of people were panicking online during and after this match, while I couldn't help but think that maybe Iga just had a tough time getting used to the different conditions going from indoor to outdoor in altitude. 

She kept changing her racquet and sending them off to the stringer unhappy with the tension 

So I think it was just getting used to the different conditions in a match setting more then anything else. 

Plus playing on a hot day vs practicing in cooler conditions would definitely change the trajectory of the ball as well. And thus it took her some getting used to.

Iga wasn't alone with her struggles either Gauff got bagelled in her first set before winning. So this gives me hope for Iga's next outing. 

Sometimes winning ugly like this can give you more confidence going forward because you've survived playing at your worst and have another opportunity to do better. 

I have a feeling that's exactly how Iga's next match will go. 

Of course she'll be playing the tricky Linda Noskova in their first meeting on clay, but if Iga stays calm and trusts her game and skills on this surface all will be well. 

Linda isn't as good on clay as she is on other surfaces so Iga can use that to her advantage.  

Playing at night which is sure to have slower conditions will also be an advantage for Iga giving her more time on the ball.

Jazda Iga, believe in yourself as your fans continue to believe in you.

You've got this!.

Stat of the season

Most consecutive tournaments without losing the opening match this century: 

55* - Iga Swiatek (Adelaide 2022-Madrid 2025) 

51 - Kim Clijsters (Montreal 2002-Hasselt 2005) 

The incredible streak is still alive!