By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Thursday, February 20, 2025 Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Iga Swiatek found herself battling the harsh desert conditions today.
In a stunning performance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva unleashed a powerful serve, delivering 10 aces and clinching the last five games to defeat the second-seeded Swiatek 6-3, 6-3. This victory propels Andreeva into her first WTA 1000 semifinal.
Recently, Swiatek faced another setback when Jelena Ostapenko outplayed her 6-3, 6-1 in the Doha semifinals, cutting short Swiatek’s 15-match winning streak and ending her three-year reign as the Doha champion.
When questioned about the challenge of competing in consecutive WTA 1000 events, Swiatek acknowledged that both the physical demands and the need to quickly adapt to different courts often lead to surprising results, such as Andreeva’s victory or world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka being defeated by WTA ace leader Clara Tauson.
Swiatek, the current Roland Garros champion, expressed concern that unless the tournament schedule changes, upsets at this level are likely to become more common. “It definitely comes down to the calendar. Playing week after week makes it tough to stay consistent over the years,” Swiatek shared during a press conference in Dubai. “Unlike the past, players outside the top 20 aren’t just walkovers anymore.”
“We’re at a point where anyone can win these tournaments, and that’s been the case for a while now,” she added. “But the calendar isn’t helping. We’re constantly switching continents, surfaces, and even the balls we use – it’s challenging, so I’m not surprised by the results.”
Despite working with coach Wim Fissette to capitalize on her speed and technique to counter powerful opponents, Swiatek struggled against big hitters like Andreeva and Ostapenko. She consistently fell victim to precise down-the-line shots, unable to regain her footing in both matches.
Known as one of tennis’ best returners, Swiatek faced a tough challenge against Andreeva, who dominated her service games, particularly in the closing moments of their hour and 36-minute battle.
Reflecting on her loss today, Swiatek, ranked world No. 2, connected it to insufficient practice time following the Australian Open, where she narrowly lost a third-set tiebreaker in the semifinals to Madison Keys.
“Honestly, I typically don’t speak so candidly, but I’d attribute this loss to not having enough time for practice,” Swiatek admitted in Dubai. “I’m definitely not pleased with how I performed today because I know I could do better.”
“I’ll sit down with my team and figure out a new plan for the upcoming weeks,” she continued, acknowledging the need for more preparation before diving into such high-stakes tournaments.
