Iga Świątek’s sudden exit from the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami has left fans and experts stunned. The Polish tennis star was defeated 2:6, 5:7 by Filipino player Alexandra Eala, ranked 140th in the WTA rankings. According to fans and commentators, this was Świątek’s worst match of the season.
Świątek herself acknowledged that her forehand let her down during the match. „Some of my shots were completely unexpected. I didn’t expect her to hit so flat. She went all out and hit some great returns, so it was hard to respond,” she said in a post-match conference.
However, tennis expert Adam Romer, editor-in-chief of „Tenisklub” magazine, pointed out that Świątek’s service was dramatically weak. „I don’t remember a match where she won a game at her serve only on the sixth attempt. She lost the first five service games! It’s incomprehensible,” Romer expressed his astonishment.
Romer also noted that Świątek seemed to lack a strategy against Eala. „It looks like Iga didn’t have a plan to play against the Filipino player. I don’t know why. The points Eala won easily with her forehand down the line were strange. An intelligent tennis player like Iga should have seen this and tried to change her game,” Romer said.
The expert also praised Eala’s preparation for the match, saying that she was „perfectly prepared tactically” and „realized her assumptions with iron consistency.” Romer added that Eala’s team, including Toni Nadal, had prepared thoroughly for the match.
Romer believes that Świątek’s fans are not used to seeing her lose in such a manner. „I always say that Iga is a victim of her own success. She has accustomed everyone to winning easily, quickly, and pleasantly. But every tennis player knows that these situations won’t last forever,” Romer said.
The next important tournament for Świątek is the WTA 500 in Stuttgart (April 14-21), where she will start her clay court season. What are Świątek’s plans now? „I think Iga will return to Poland and train, preparing herself. I wonder if she’ll play in Radom, in front of the Polish audience, as it might be a way to regain some enthusiasm,” Romer speculated.
With Świątek’s defeat, many are wondering what the future holds for the Polish tennis star. However, Romer warns against writing her off just yet. „Just because Iga has a bad match, it doesn’t mean she’s finished. She has spoiled us with her success over the past three seasons. Sometimes, even statistically speaking, things won’t go as planned,” Romer concluded.
Key Statistics:
* Świątek’s current WTA ranking: 16
* Eala’s current WTA ranking: 140
* Świątek’s win-loss record in 2023: 15-5
* Świątek’s clay court win-loss record: 21-7
Related Articles:
* Świątek’s Miami Open performance: A statistical analysis
* Expert analysis: What went wrong for Świątek in Miami
* Świątek’s road to recovery: A look at her upcoming tournaments
