WATCH: "Helpless" Swiatek cries during a disappointing loss to Pegula
WTAFriday, 06 January 2023 at 15:00
Updated at Monday, 13 January 2025 at 15:47
Iga Swiatek led her country to the Final Four participation at the 2023 United Cup, but she couldn't produce her best tennis against the United States.
Poland faced off against the United States in the first semi-final tie of the inaugural United Cup, and it all started with a women's singles match between Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.
The WTA World No. 1 had yet to lose in 2023, but she found the first player to beat her. She didn't only find the first player to beat her, as Pegula completely destroyed her in the match.
The Polish player couldn't find any response to her opponent's play, and during one of the changeovers, Swiatek appeared to be crying on the bench.
After the match, which she lost 2-6, 2-6, Swiatek was asked about that moment, and she admitted that she burst into tears as she was unable to find any solutions on the court.
"Because I just knew that I felt kind of helpless today, because physically and mentally I wasn’t able to kind of show up even, and problem-solve. So it’s always hard when you lose, especially when you’re kind of playing for the team and your country."
"So I was just sad. But, you know, it’s not the first time I cried after a lost match. Nothing special. I was off the rhythm, as well. I couldn’t kind of use Jessie’s power to put even more in the ball. I more like kind of pushed it back in."
Of course, Swiatek knew that while she didn't play well, her opponent also played exceptionall, which she recognized after the match.
"When I wanted to play more aggressively, I just missed a lot. But she also forced that. I feel like she was more solid and she didn’t make (an) unforced error for (the) first, I don’t know, 10 minutes of the match. I’m not sure, but it looked like it."
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