Iga Swiatek Opens Up About Frustration and Anger During Middle East Swing
Iga Swiatek has been in dominant form at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but the World No. 2 recently reflected on the frustration and anger she experienced during the Middle East swing earlier this season. Despite being a top contender at both the Dubai Tennis Championships and the Qatar Open, Swiatek fell short in crucial moments, leading to visible frustration on the court.
Speaking to the media in Indian Wells, Swiatek admitted that she struggled with expectations and emotions during her time in the Middle East, which ultimately impacted her performances.
“I was getting frustrated with myself because I wasn’t able to control my emotions the way I wanted to. I felt like I should have been doing better, but instead, I was getting too angry at small mistakes, and that affected my game,” Swiatek said.
High Expectations and Tough Losses in Dubai & Qatar
Swiatek had entered the Qatar Open as the two-time defending champion and looked unstoppable early on, dropping just five games across her first three matches. However, in the semifinals, she suffered a surprising defeat to Jelena Ostapenko, a player who has troubled her in the past.
Her Dubai campaign followed a similar pattern. She started strong but was upset by Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals, leading to visible frustration during and after the match.
“It wasn’t just about losing. It was about the way I lost—making errors I usually don’t make, not handling key moments well,” Swiatek explained.
Shifting Focus to Indian Wells
After a short break, Swiatek seems to have reset mentally and is back to her dominant best in Indian Wells. She has steamrolled through her first few rounds, barely losing games and looking as sharp as ever.
The four-time Grand Slam champion emphasized that she has worked on her mindset and emotional control, ensuring that similar frustrations don’t creep into her game moving forward.
“I’ve learned from those experiences. Now, I’m more focused on staying in the moment and not letting small things throw me off,” she said.
Swiatek will next face Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals as she looks to continue her flawless form and defend her Indian Wells title.
