Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Iga Swiatek, one of the world’s top tennis players, recently opened up about a tough phase in her career after an early exit from the Miami Open. She was visibly emotional after losing to Magda Linette in the round of 64 at the women’s singles event, even stepping aside briefly to wipe away tears before facing the media. Despite generally being happy in life, she admitted that tennis has started to feel confusing and mentally exhausting. “This is like the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have, dropping in matches in terms of the level.” She said, as quoted by The Guardian. Even though Swiatek is only 24 and already a multiple Grand Slam winner, success has brought intense pressure. Her strong mindset, once her biggest strength, has lately turned into overthinking and self-doubt. Things became harder after a doping-related issue in 2024, which led to a short suspension (later resolved). Missing key tournaments also hurt her chances of reclaiming the No 1 ranking from Aryna Sabalenka, which affected her confidence.She did manage a big comeback by winning Wimbledon when expectations were low, but the stress soon returned. While she still performs better than most players, the pressure shows especially in big matches.After the Miami loss, Swiatek decided to split with her coach Wim Fissette, signalling a turning point in her career. Though her team, including her psychologist, has played a big role in her success, she may now need to rely more on herself and take full control of her decisions.
