Previously Unknown Tragedy Behind Iga Swiatek’s Madrid Upset Revealed
NewsFriday, 02 May 2025 at 12:57
Iga Swiatek had to battle more than just on-court frustrations during her loss to Coco Gauff at the 2025 Madrid Open in Rome.
Swiatek entered the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid as a defending champion, but she struggled at the event since her first match. The Polish player lost a set to Alexandra Eala, Diana Shnaider, and Madison Keys, even being bageled by Keys.
It was the first time in six years that Swiatek lost a set 0-6 on clay, and an even more surprising result came in the following round. The four-time French Open champion lost 1-6, 1-6 to Coco Gauff.
Swiatek didn't play a good match, which was, obviously, a good reason to be frustrated. The 23-year-old showed that she was unhappy during the match on multiple occasions.
However, after the loss of the WTA World No. 2 player, a shocking tragedy from her personal life was revealed, which put her struggles in Madrid into a completely new perspective.
At the end of the day, tennis players are also only people, and they also have a family and their private lives. That can also impact them on the tennis court, as some things are just bigger than sport.
Unfortunately, it seems that Swiatek had to deal with a sad moment, as according to a report from French journalist Benoit Maylin, Swiatek lost her grandfather shortly before the start of the Madrid Open. Maylin posted the news on X (formerly known as Twitter).
"Before burying Djokovic and Swiatek after Novak's strange behavior and Iga's apparent nervousness, it should be noted that both are going through a complicated period. Several of Djoko's close friends have health problems, and Iga lost his grandfather just before the tournament."
The French journalist mentioned that the news originated from a "trusted source," and he was quickly fact-checked by another journalist, Michal Chojecki from Poland.
The Polish journalist stated that he received confirmation from Swiatek's team, also saying that the 23-year-old attended her grandfather's funeral before the Madrid Open.
"I asked Iga Swiatek's team if the information given by this journalist about the death of Iga's grandfather is true. Daria Sulgostowska confirms. Iga was at the funeral before the tournament."
While many fans are quick to criticize tennis players for their on-court behavior, such as when Swiatek audibly voiced her frustrations during her loss to Gauff, the information about the passing of the Pole's grandfather can explain a lot, and show how easy it is to judge others without having all the information.
What's next for Iga Swiatek after Madrid Open loss?
Swiatek, like the rest of the Tour, will now move to Rome. She will be the defending champion at the Italian Open. The Polish player has won the tournament three times in the last four years, with her only loss coming through retirement in 2023.
After that, the Polish player will move to Paris, where she will try to defend her title at the French Open. Swiatek has won the Roland Garros four times in the last five years, and she will be the defending champion also in the French capital.
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