Iga Swiatek admits ‘worst nightmare’ after shock Miami loss

Iga Swiatek’s struggles continued as she exited the Miami Open following a defeat to fellow Pole Magda Linette.

Swiatek is yet to find her best form in 2026, and this latest loss marked her sixth of the season.

She started strong, taking the first set 6-1, but couldn’t maintain that level as Linette fought back to win in three sets.

After her exit, Swiatek expressed concerns about her game and where she’s at mentally this season. “Well I feel a little bit lost on court, and it’s not great,” she told reporters.

“I felt like I’m coming back from injury or something. I feel like it’s hard for me sometimes to focus on the right things and work through them.”

“I wish it was easier. I’m still working hard,” she said. “It’s not like I’m going to let go or give up.”

Iga Swiatek pulls no punches after Miami defeat

Swiatek looked frustrated as she faced the media after her early exit in Miami.

“It just was a bad match from me in the second and third sets. For sure, it’s tough to handle that when I know I played well in the first.

“I just, I don’t know, unconsciously or consciously, it’s hard for me to change things and then my tennis kind of collapses. I haven’t felt like this in, I don’t know, probably over five years.”

Swiatek also admitted she is struggling with expectations on court as well as confidence issues but is determined to put it right with hard work.

“Dropping this much in matches. I’ll just have to try to get my confidence back. I feel like I carry a lot of expectations when I’m on the court and I need to get rid of them because my game has not been good enough to have any expectations.

“I’m a bit confused, but I’ll just work hard to get it back. This is the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have. Dropping in matches like this.

The world number two will hope a return to Europe can spark her season into life when she takes part in the clay court season, which should suit her game better.

Iga Swiatek drops to new ranking low following Miami defeat

After Indian Wells, Swiatek lost her world number two spot to Elena Rybakina, who climbed above her with a run to the final.

And with an early exit in Miami this week, it will be a while before the Pole gets another chance to reclaim that position – at least not before the Madrid Open.

Swiatek’s ranking could slip even further depending on how far Rybakina goes in Miami. The Kazakh only reached the second round there last year, so any progress beyond that could increase the gap.

Swiatek had spent over two years ranked inside the top two before Rybakina took over.

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