We’ve all seen players walk into the court arenas with their head-banging with music on headphones. Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Nick Kyrgios, and others are some of the prime examples who have followed this ritual. Anything to find their groove, right? Similarly, Iga Swiatek found something suited to her rhythm as well. She is the first to arrive in Tennis Paradise for the Indian Wells Masters but, before kicking off preparations, the Pole answered fans’ highly requested queries. An unusual ask among them questioned Swiatek about her favorite Taylor Swift album that made her a true “Swiftie”.

Swiatek is one of many ardent fans of pop sensation Taylor Swift on the WTA. The former World No. 2 was reduced to tears of joy after finally attending the songstress Eras Tour in Liverpool last year. She later posted a tear-stained selfie holding a note from Swift on X and wrote – “I’m dead. Yes, I cried many times during the show. Yes, it was incredible. You are amazing @taylorswift13.” Naturally, she has made no secret of her appreciation of the 14-time Grammy-winning artist’s work.

Subsequently, she answered a fan’s question about which album turned her into a Taylor Swift fanatic at the BNP Paribas Open. “Speak Now,” she said. But why this album out of all others?

“That was one of the first ones and I don’t know, I just loved her lyrics and how she describes the world. I remember I didn’t speak English that well when I listened to it the first time and I learned so much because of it.”

She continued, “Also, it was the first album that I listened to where I felt like I’m watching a movie because of how she sings and how she describes the world. I love her.”

For those unaware, ‘Speak Now’ was released as the third studio album by American songwriter Swift in 2010. The project charted number one in several countries and made her the first woman with four albums in the top 10 billboard charts.

Moreover, the Pole also revealed that “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” one of her favorite songs from the singer’s 31-track double album – The Tortured Poets Department – spoke to her specifically. “Well, tennis only broke my heart a couple of times, so I can relate sometimes. Tennis can be heartbreaking, and then you have to go on court and play again,” she said. However, heartbreaking updates have frequented rather alarmingly for the Polish No. 1 player this year.

Her last title finish came in June 2024 when she lifted her fourth French Open. Swiatek later endured a one-month suspension from competitive tennis following a positive dope test. And now, days, before she launches her title defence in Indian Wells, the Pole met with a worrisome verdict from an ex-pro.

Ex-pro says Iga Swiatek is “more stressed” amid ongoing struggles

Polish superstar Iga Swiatek returned for the 2025 season in high spirits. Unfortunately, she hasn’t tasted quite the success she had hoped for. Her bid for an Australian Open title came crashing after she lost to eventual champion Madison Keys in the last four. The Pole was unable to record a noteworthy outing during the Middle East swing but has now returned as the defending champion of the BNP Paribas Open.

During a recent conversation, Lindsay Davenport highlighted that although Swiatek has gone trophy-less in just two months of the ongoing season – first time since 2020 -, she will do what it takes to defend her status in Indian Wells. “For whatever reason, she looks more stressed out on the court. Whether that’s because the results haven’t been there or the change of coach, I don’t know, so I’m speculating. She just doesn’t look as calm or at ease on the court.”

“Sometimes it only takes one tournament, one match, one set, something that clicks in for a player and things start to turn around. She’s fortunate she’s coming into one of her favourite tournaments … for me, she’s the favourite going into Indian Wells,” she added.

For the uninitiated, Swiatek switched her coaching camp last year after parting ways with longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and replacing him with Naomi Osaka‘s ex-coach Wim Fissette. Though she hasn’t won a single title under the Belgian coach’s tutelage, Swiatek credited him for being supportive during her doping controversy last year. For now, Swiatek will look to fine-tune her skills before she takes on the court for a blockbuster week in Tennis Paradise.