Definitely not how the Polish would have wanted! World No. 2 Iga Swiatek started her new season with a disappointing semifinal loss at the Australian Open. The 2023 WTA Finals winner could not withstand what Madison Keys was offering in their sixth head-to-head meeting, as the American’s game simply overpowered her under the lights of Rod Laver Arena. And just after the AO ended, Maddy’s former coach compared Swiatek’s playing style with that of a former tennis pro and Hall of Famer, who faced similar struggles while competing against powerful opponents, forcing her to early retirement.

The five-time GS champion started her AO campaign with a strong approach. The Polish star outclassed every opponent she faced, despite not losing a single set until the semifinals. In the semifinal, she even took an early lead, winning the first set in a nail-biting 7-5 finish. However, the momentum shifted in the second set. The experienced Keys, playing in her third AO semifinal, applied relentless pressure on Swiatek. With heavy ball striking and impeccable serving, she raced to a 5-0 lead in seconds before Swiatek avoided the embarrassment of a ‘bagel.’

However, the deciding set saw Keys level the match on her seventh breakpoint while unleashing powerful shots to hold at 4-3. She then served through four break points to take a 5-4 lead. Despite Iga squandering a match point at 6-5, she struggled under the pressure of the tiebreaker and ultimately bowed out of the Happy Slam. And, following her semifinal exit, the former tennis pro and seven-time GS winner Mats Wilander couldn’t help but compare Iga’s game to that of another former tennis icon from Sweden.

During an interview with KickServeRadio.com, part of the Tennis Channel’s podcast network, Mats Wilander was asked by host Jonny Levine about the similarities between the Polish Iga and Swedish Martina Hingis. He added, “I think in a way they both suffer from the same thing. If the big hitters came out, if they hit the ball really well, then have problems because they know they can’t stand the power. They like to dictate, and if they can’t do that, then I think Iga maybe tried to overplay a little bit. I agree, Martina Hingis, and that’s why she quit that early, I’m not sure. Could be the girls that coming up and just overpowering her, but I think that with Iga, still she is growing.” But, why did all of a sudden compare Iga with the Swedish Hingis, though?

The former world No. 1, Martina Hingis, faced her biggest challenge in the game when competing against powerful opponents. The five-time singles GS champion, always regarded as a tactical player, lacked the sheer power in her strokes, especially against physically stronger rivals. A prime example? The 1997 US Open final against Venus Williams! Despite landing 69% of her first serves, Hingis struggled with her returns, missing eight, four of which were rocket-fast aces. However, the Swedish dominated with her forehand, hitting nearly 38% of returns past Williams. “So my serve is not a big weapon I have in my game. I have to have something else. That’s my return,” she even said after winning the match 6-0, 6-4. 

To be precise, Swiatek, 23, needs to improve her returns, especially against powerful opponents like Keys in her upcoming matches. And, she is already working on this, as the Polish star recently shared a glimpse of her post-AO training session on social media.

“Back at itttt”, Iga Swiatek shared her training session post-AO heart-break 

Nobody saw it coming, especially after winning consecutive matches in straight sets! Following a successful 2024 season, where she clinched her third consecutive French Open title, Swiatek suffered a devastating loss to world No. 7 Keys (previously ranked 19th) in the AO semifinal. Swiatek, who had dropped only 14 games on her way to the semis, struggled to even maintain her composure as the American fired 36 winners against her 22. Shocking? Absolutely. And right after the match, the Polish star gave an out-and-out reflection during her post-match press conference.

“This year was different, and for sure, it gives me a positive vibe for the rest of the season. Obviously, I wanted more. I already played the semifinal, and I wanted to win this one. But I think if I keep working hard, I’ll have more chances in the future, and maybe I’ll use them as I didn’t use my match point today,” she said. And right after some break, she made her way back in the training, as she uploaded one of the glimpses of training in her Instagram from the gym, quoting, “back at itttt”.

The second-seeded in the ATA ranking will now compete in the Middle East in the coming weeks at the ‘Qatar TotalEnergies Open’, followed by the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championship, starting on 16th February. Do you think Iga can produce a strong comeback in either of these competitions? Share your predictions below!