Iga Swiatek’s WTA Finals match against Coco Gauff took a surprising turn as the Polish tennis champion struggled to maintain her usual dominance. Despite perplexing the American in the start, Swiatek couldn’t carry the momentum forward and ended up losing in straight sets. Pretty unusual, huh? Yes, and that’s exactly what caught the eye of the former British tennis player Laura Robson who shed light on both Gauff’s strategic play and Iga’s inability to predict the flow of the game. 

In an interview with The Tennis Gazette, Robson noted one key factor that set Gauff’s performance apart, her forehand play. “In the past, Iga was able to dictate the terms of play for Coco, especially on her second serve, shutting down the backhand,” Robson explained. However, as per Robson, the American tennis player’s forehand was much stronger this time, and Swiatek was unable to exhibit the control she typically does. The result? Swiatek’s game lacked its usual precision, and she found herself hitting shots she typically avoids, like backhands down the center of the court—a rare choice for the former world number 1.

Well, in retrospect, it seems the odds were already stacked up against the Pole who is coming after an extended break from the game. The hiatus, combined with a coach change, must have had an invisible impact on Iga’s disposition. And, if we talk about Gauff, she has recently been in phenomenal form – bouncing off a grand victory at the China Open and a deep run in Wuhan. All that showed up in the match. With 47 unforced errors in the match, it was clear that Swiatek’s game was far from her usual precision. Gauff, on the other hand, remained considerably stable, which ultimately led to her victory. Understandably, Robson was left surprised.

Swiatek’s performance at the WTA Finals is a reminder of how critical mental and physical health are in sports. Even the weathered champions can find themselves off balance when returning to competition after some time away, especially against opponents like Gauff, who are continuously improving. But, there is another trait that most of the champs exhibit. Bounce back no matter what! And that’s what Swiatek did. 

Iga Swiatek learned what she needs to work on and bounced back

Following her defeat against Gauff, Iga Swiatek took a detailed look at her gameplay, identifying the areas for improvement. During the post-match interview, she mentioned some key adjustments – especially around discipline and consistency – that could shape her future approach. The former world no.1 said, “Oh for sure I wasn’t solid enough and Coco [Gauff] used her opportunities much better than I did. I had some break points that I didn’t win and for sure I made more unforced errors. And when you play Coco, you need to be solid even though our head-to-head was more positive for me, still never easy to win against her.” She continued, “So today for sure, she was a better player and yeah I’m gonna try to adjust a bit better in my next match and try to do some stuff tomorrow in the practice court to be better.”

Switek’s positive acceptance of her loss speaks volumes of her personality and determination to fight back. And we caught a good glimpse of the latter in her next match against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina.

As Iga locked horns with Daria Katakana in her third group stage match, her reflection on her mistakes seemed to show some results. Swiatek took down Daria in just 51 minutes to bag a dominating 6-1, 6-1 victory – leaving onlookers in sheer awe. However, despite the triumph, Swiatek couldn’t find her spot in the top-4. Sad, but not so bad!

The last victory must have strengthened Iga’s disposition which appeared dented of late. With a clear vision for what to change and what to work on, Iga is now focused on path to regain control and composure on the court – leaving fans hopeful for a strong comeback. Do you think Iga will regain her old dominance in 2025? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below: