Iga Swiatek Admits She Struggles To Play Freely: 'It Comes Out Jerky'
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Iga Swiatek admitted that she has struggled to play freely recently. The Pole explained her struggles after her loss at the 2025 Indian Wells Open.
Swiatek has not added to her title collection since the 2024 French Open, and she couldn't change that in Indian Wells either. The Polish player made it to the semi-finals only to be stopped by Mirra Andreeva. The 17-year-old player eliminated Swiatek also at the Dubai Championships.
The WTA World No. 2, obviously, wasn't happy about the loss, which showed also during the match. Swiatek almost hit a ball boy during an angry moment.
After the match, the 23-year-old player was much more calm, and she could assess the match and her performance more objectively. Swiatek talked to Canal+ Sport in Polish.
The five-time Grand Slam champion gave her opponent credit, saying that her opponent played really well. The two-time Indian Wells champion also admitted that she couldn't really use the windy conditions at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to her advantage.
"Mirra played better, more bravely in decisive moments. I remember a few balls that I could have played better, but overall, I think the match was at a high level."
"A lot also depended on the wind because sometimes it was hard to get out of a situation where she played very hard with the wind, and I played against the wind, and even though I hit 100 percent, the balls didn't fly. On the other hand, when I played with the wind, I didn't really use it."
Swiatek was asked to find some positives about her time in Indian Wells. She was happy about how she played in the previous matches, and she had reasons for that.
In her first three matches, Swiatek allowed all of her opponents only two games. She beat Caroline Garcia 6-2, 6-0. Then, she won against Dayana Yastremska 6-0, 6-2, and the Pole also bested Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 6-1.
"I am very happy with the previous matches. I don't think I played badly in the semi-finals, either. I definitely lacked courage in the decisive moments. You can see that she plays without expectations, sometimes with a loose hand."
Swiatek mentioned that Andreeva was able to play freely, something that she admitted she has struggled with recently. The Polish player said that every time she tries to do that, it comes out "jerky."
"I don't remember the last time I played such a match when I had such self-confidence and a loose hand to take a risk and for the ball to go in. Rather, when I try to play like that now in the decisive moments, it comes out jerky."
Swiatek will have a chance to forget the Indian Wells Open disappointment. The Miami Open starts on March 18th, and she will be one of the top favorites once again.
