Swiatek Admits Fatigue Played Role In Unexpected Dubai Defeat To Qualifier

| by Zachary Wimer

Iga Swiatek was stunningly beaten in the semi-final of the 2024 Dubai Championships, and fatigue had a hand in that.

After the Polish player won the Qatar Open, a question emerged. Will she play at another WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai, or will she rest? She confirmed pretty quickly that she would play in Dubai but spoke about the risk of doing so.

Having done the same the year before. Swiatek understood well how it would affect her body. Still, she has decided to play in Dubai, knowing full well that fatigue would be a factor.

It didn't prove a huge factor in the early matches, but it did prove a factor in the semi-final match. Anna Kalinskaya beat her in two sets, and speaking with the media afterward, Swiatek admitted that she did feel tired in the match, and it certainly showed.

"I felt like I didn't have enough strength to give more of myself. It made me feel like I had little control. Normally, if I tell myself what to do, I can do it, today I was tired."

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It shouldn't have come as a huge surprise to anybody. Last year's Doha run saw her get lucky with a couple of retirements, and yet she felt the fatigue last year. That should give an idea that she would likely struggle in Dubai, and she did even with a walkover in Doha the previous week.

She even admitted to the media that she felt weaker every day in Dubai, which is understandable given the number of matches she has played. Still, she got close to reaching the final, but ultimately, she just fell short.

"Day after day I felt weaker, I didn't tell you that because it wasn't necessary. I have to accept such situations."

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