Iga Swiatek suffered her worst loss of the season earlier this week, exiting the Miami Open in her opening-round match.
Facing fellow Polish player, Magda Linette, few gave her a chance against her far superior compatriot.
However, 2026 has not been kind to the former world number one, and the disappointment continued with this shock loss.
Swiatek admitted she was confused immediately after the defeat, unsure how to stop the rut. It seems that confusion has now turned into sadness, if her latest interview is anything to go by.
Speaking to the Polish media in her native tongue, she cut an emotional figure as she made a stark statement.
However, it was a brutally honest assessment of her current struggles, stating: “I feel like I have expectations of myself that I can’t fulfil. I need to let go of them.”
She added: “Everybody knows I have a game to win tournaments. I just haven’t been showing that.
“I’m kind of facing things that I never faced because I never felt things that intensely on court. I mean, I did, but I was much younger, and it felt like a normal process. Now it doesn’t.”
This is a player who has won six Grand Slam titles and has been world number one for 125 weeks. It’s really disappointing to now see her so at odds with her own tennis philosophy.
Whether it be instead of or as well as Wim Fissette, Swiatek needs a change in her coaching department.
