By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday, May 6, 2025
It’s somewhat surprising to report that Iga Swiatek has failed to capture a title across her last three clay-court outings. While the world isn’t coming to an end—far from it—this marks an unexpected chapter for the Polish powerhouse.
Last year, she charged into the Olympic semifinals in Paris with an astonishing 23-match winning streak on clay. Her dominance had us convinced she was invincible on this surface.
Yet, tennis is a game of constant change. Fast forward ten months, and Swiatek now finds herself grappling with self-doubt and the pressure of defending her title in Rome.
Early exits in Doha and Indian Wells raised eyebrows. A lack of comfort was evident, marked by defeats against her nemesis Jelena Ostapenko in Doha and the emerging talent Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells, amplifying concerns over her resilience.
Is clay the remedy Swiatek needs to overcome her challenges? So far, the answer appears elusive.
She was once again defeated by Ostapenko in Stuttgart, followed by a shockingly one-sided loss to Coco Gauff in the Madrid semifinals, 6-1, 6-1. Another title defense slips away, prompting questions about why this reliable clay-courter seems to be uncharacteristically faltering.
Swiatek has identified a key issue: she’s battling her own mindset, leading to questionable decisions on the court.
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Iga Swiatek enjoys Tiramisu during Media Day in Rome. pic.twitter.com/u5i1cmD8IP
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 6, 2025
“This year, I feel more challenged by my perfectionism,” Swiatek revealed during media day in Rome. “My focus is on being disciplined on the court and making sound decisions, rather than those that occasionally come to mind. I believe I can achieve that; it’s my primary focus right now.”
Perhaps it’s that straightforward—embracing the struggle, keeping the game simple, and concentrating on the tried-and-true patterns that have always served her well.
Swiatek certainly possesses the skill to turn her fortunes around in Rome, as Paris offers clay conditions that complement her game perfectly, allowing her the extra time needed to establish her strategies, all while honing in on “being really solid.”
Ignoring the loss to Gauff and a few shaky moments in her quarterfinal match against Madison Keys, one might argue that Swiatek is not too far from her peak form. She has yet to face any first-round exits, and her close encounters in Stuttgart indicate she is on the verge of breaking through.
At 23, the second-ranked player in the world remains confident in her consistency, albeit with a hint of impatience for a breakthrough.
Champs get back into the groove!
Iga Swiatek practices in Campo Centrale on Monday. pic.twitter.com/qe3uq7KIEr
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 5, 2025
“The match against Coco was definitely not my best,” she expressed. “I struggled to focus and my movement was off. It felt like everything just stacked up at once, which led to that scoreline.”
“I do appreciate my consistency. I aim to arrive at every tournament prepared. But winning titles is also a priority, and I want to achieve that,” she added.
While some might speculate about Swiatek’s dynamic with coach Wim Fissette, she expressed only positive sentiments about their partnership during her press conference in Rome. She seems confident in her path to overcoming this title drought sooner rather than later.
“It’s just one day,” she noted regarding her defeat to Gauff in Madrid. “You can’t assess everything based on that. I’m continuing the process I’ve been on. Let’s see what the next challenge brings.”
