MIAMI — Iga Świątek’s remarkable run of dominance hit an abrupt halt Tuesday at the Miami Open, ending a 73-match winning streak in opening rounds that stretched back to 2021. The world No. 3 was defeated by compatriot Magda Linette 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, a result that sent shockwaves through the tournament and left Świątek questioning her mental state on the court. The loss marks a low point in what has been an inconsistent season for the six-time Grand Slam champion, raising questions about her form as the clay-court season approaches.
The defeat was particularly stunning given Świątek’s previous command of the opening set. She had not lost a match after winning the first set 6-0 or 6-1 since March 2019, before she had even broken into the top 100 of the WTA rankings. This streak, and others like it, had become a hallmark of her ascent to the top of women’s tennis. Between 2022 and 2024, she compiled streaks of 44 and 56 matches in which she did not lose after winning the first set at any level, demonstrating a remarkable ability to close out matches once in a commanding position. The loss to Linette, however, felt different, a “kind of collapse” as Świątek described it.
A Mental Battle for the Polish Star
Świątek, known for her introspective nature, openly admitted to struggling with overthinking during the match. “I’ve always been an over-thinker, but lately it’s just been so intense,” she told reporters. “It’s hard for me to get rid of many thoughts I have and this used to be my strength.” This internal struggle appears to be a growing concern for the 22-year-old, who has been working with psychologist Daria Abramowicz for years to manage the pressures of professional tennis. The dynamic between Świątek and her team was reportedly evident during her recent quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, following a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win over Karolína Muchová.
The mental aspect of the game isn’t new for Świątek. In a 2025 interview with The Athletic, she acknowledged that changes to her game are only “visible on a bigger horizon,” suggesting a long-term approach to improvement. She reiterated this sentiment after the Miami Open defeat, stating, as reported by Bounces, “You can’t do, like, one huge step and suddenly it’s not going to — there’s no magic solutions. So I guess you need to do it with small changes, but kind of consistently, and keep your discipline.”
Navigating an Inconsistent Season
Świątek’s 2024 season has been marked by both highs and lows. She secured a significant victory at Wimbledon last summer, but has otherwise struggled to consistently replicate the form that made her the dominant world No. 1 in previous years. Her current ranking of No. 3 reflects this inconsistency. Since hiring Belgian coach Wim Fissette at the end of 2024, Świątek has been working to find a balance between patient baseline play and more aggressive shot-making, a challenge that has proven difficult to master.
The loss to Linette didn’t follow a pattern of Świątek unraveling when facing adversity, a trend that has sometimes been exacerbated by an unreliable first serve. Against Linette, Świątek only lost her serve twice, but a high number of return errors hampered her ability to pressure her opponent, who had previously won only two games in their last meeting. This suggests the issue wasn’t a technical breakdown, but rather a mental block preventing her from executing her game plan effectively.
Looking Ahead to the Clay Court Season
Świątek now has an unexpectedly long break before the start of the clay-court season, which begins at the Stuttgart Open in Germany in mid-April. This break could be beneficial, allowing her time to regroup and address the mental challenges she’s facing. She previously spoke about the need to prioritize her well-being and avoid burnout, leading to her withdrawal from the Dubai Tennis Championships in February, a decision shared by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The tournament director criticized both players for their absence, but Świątek’s focus remains on finding a sustainable path to success.
Clay has historically been Świątek’s strongest surface, with four of her six Grand Slam titles coming at the French Open. However, even on her preferred surface, she experienced a dip in form last year, failing to win a title and losing in the semifinals at Roland Garros – her first defeat at the tournament in four years. She will be hoping to rediscover her dominance on clay this season, using it as a foundation to rebuild her confidence and return to peak form.
Świątek acknowledges the weight of expectations, stating, “I sense like I carry a lot of expectations, and I can’t really, like, fulfil them right now. I need to get rid of them, because my game hasn’t been great enough to have any expectations.” She remains determined to overcome these challenges, believing she has the ability to regain her form and mental fortitude. The next test for Świątek will come at the Stuttgart Open, where she will appear to begin her campaign on the clay court season and demonstrate the progress she’s made in addressing the issues that plagued her in Miami.
The road back to the top will require patience, discipline, and a renewed focus on the mental side of the game. For fans of Iga Świątek, and women’s tennis in general, the coming months will be a fascinating case study in resilience and the challenges of maintaining dominance in a demanding sport.
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