Martina Navratilova: Managing Emotions Key for Swiatek to End Title Drought
Martina Navratilova believes that Iga Swiatek must learn to handle her emotions better and maintain a positive mindset—despite her struggles with confidence—if she wants to return to winning titles.
Although the world No. 2 has reached the semifinals in three of her four tournaments this season, she remains without a final appearance in 2025 and has not won a trophy since the 2024 French Open. Following her latest semifinal loss to Mirra Andreeva at Indian Wells, concerns are growing over whether the five-time Grand Slam champion is facing a mental block in the latter stages of tournaments.
However, Swiatek’s defeat took a backseat to another storyline—her visible frustration on court. A moment where she lashed out at her team and nearly struck a ball kid with a stray ball drew significant attention. This wasn’t an isolated incident; similar outbursts were seen during the Middle East swing earlier this year.
Navratilova on Swiatek’s Emotional Struggles and Title Drought
“She showed moments of frustration and directed some of it toward her team. While it’s unclear what was being said, she’ll need to manage those emotions better, as she can be highly agitated at times,” Navratilova told the WTA website.
“She seems to be struggling with confidence, which can lead to frustration when things don’t go her way. Her game is still there, but maintaining a positive mindset will be key. But let’s not forget, she has been the most successful player overall for the past few years and has won this event before.”
A few days ago, Swiatek shared an emotional letter acknowledging that the challenges of the past few months had taken a toll on her. She also admitted that her behavior in Indian Wells was unacceptable.
With that behind her, Swiatek now turns her focus to the Miami Open, where she will be aiming to end her nearly year-long title drought. The Polish star previously won the tournament in 2022.
