After the highs of winning a fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open this year, things look shaky for Iga Swiatek ahead of the US Open. The Pole has lost her winning touch since, with an inconsistent run of form hitting her badly. At the Wimbledon Championships, she suffered a third-round defeat followed by a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics Games. Additionally, she suffered a major blow ahead of the US Open after going down tamely against Aryna Sabalenka earlier today at Cincinnati Masters. To make matters worse, she was involved in an unwanted controversy during the match.

Iga Swiatek took a mid-match locker break after the first set, something which hasn’t been unfamiliar to her. During her Wimbledon third-round loss, she was slammed by the fans for taking a lengthy bathroom break. As she took another toilet break today, it made the American legend, Lindsay Davenport frustrated, and she called out Swiatek for her actions.

During the post-match show on Tennis Channel, Davenport slammed Iga Swiatek, saying, “It’s a bad habit that probably should start to be patrolled a little bit by the powers that be. Lose a set you leave the court…never used to be like that. But it happens every time.”

Against the same opponent back in the 2022 US Open, Swiatek took a similar break after losing the first set 6-3. However, the break proved to be a blessing in disguise for her, as she went on to win the match in three sets. Explaining that situation, she said, “I tried to use that time to really try to think about what to change and do it in a good way.”

Meanwhile, it is a morale-boosting win for Sabalenka ahead of the US Open. The Belarusian was finally able to defeat Swiatek after losing on numerous occasions.

Aryna Sabalenka after winning against Iga Swiatek: ‘Finally I broke the wall’

Sabalenka came into the match on the back of three consecutive defeats against the Pole. Her last victory over Swiatek was way back in the 2023 Madrid Open in the summit clash. Additionally, she lost both matches against Iga Swiatek earlier this year. However, Sabalenka finally tasted success in Cincinnati and was relieved to find a win over Swiatek.

After the match, she said, “It sounds like I broke the wall, finally. Of course, I’m super happy to be in the final after such a tough battle against Iga. I kept telling myself, that’s why she’s world No. 1. She’s going to fight till the last point so you have got to stay aggressive and keep doing your job.”

This victory was also important for Sabalenka on the rankings front. Her semifinal victory ensured her a second spot on the WTA rankings chart. This is a major boost for her going into the US Open. In the Cincinnati summit clash, the World No. 2 will now face the winner of the match between Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa. Do you think she can win the title? Share your thoughts in the comments below.