A foot blister nearly derailed Iga Świątek’s 2025 US Open campaign, but she still fought her way to the quarterfinals before falling to Amanda Anisimova. Her coach, Wim Fissette, revealed the painful injury that forced the team to completely alter their preparation strategy, leaving the Wimbledon champion unable to practice between matches when she needed it most.
What Physical Challenge Did Iga Świątek Face at the 2025 US Open?
In a recent interview with Sport.PL, Fissette revealed that Świątek was dealing with a blister on her foot during the 2025 US Open. He described it as a “difficult situation” but noted that her team managed the injury as best they could.
“We had some problems before the tournament started, related to a blister on her foot. We had to be very careful. Now, looking back, I feel we probably handled that difficult situation as best we could,” Fissette said [translated from Polish].
The Belgian coach explained that Świątek’s doctor, physiotherapist, and podiatrist were all involved in helping her deal with the blister.
“I think the entire team did everything they could, including Maciej [Ryszczuk – physical preparation coach and physiotherapist], Dr. Mateusz [Dawidziuk – Świątek’s doctor], and the local specialists at the US Open, including the podiatrist,” he continued.
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Fissette revealed that the former World No. 1 was unable to practice due to the injury, which ultimately affected her performance during the matches. The blister forced the team to alter its usual approach to tournament preparation completely.
“Truly, we navigated this difficult situation as best we could. We couldn’t practice between matches, and Iga needs that, sometimes to improve her technique a bit, and also to gain confidence, so she can repeat important things before certain matches,” he said.
The practice limitation proved particularly challenging for Świątek, who relies on consistent court time to fine-tune her game and build confidence between rounds. Without those sessions, she had to rely solely on match play to maintain her rhythm throughout the tournament.
Despite these obstacles, Świątek managed to advance through the first four rounds at Flushing Meadows. She defeated Emiliana Arango, Suzan Lamens, Anna Kalinskaya, and Ekaterina Alexandrova before her run ended in the quarterfinals against eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
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Fissette expressed that he was “glad” Świątek reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 US Open, given the challenges she faced because of her foot injury.
“That’s why I’m glad we reached the quarterfinals in these difficult conditions. I think if Iga had been in top physical condition, we could have achieved more. But I’m happy with how everyone handled the situation,” Fissette added.
What’s Next for Świątek After the US Open Exit?
Looking ahead, Świątek is next expected to compete at the 2025 Korea Open, which will be held at the Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul, South Korea, from September 15 to September 21, 2025. The tournament marks her South Korean debut after withdrawing from the 2024 edition due to her provisional suspension following a failed drug test.
Along with Świątek, players such as defending champion Beatriz Haddad Maia, Clara Tauson, Daria Kasatkina, Veronika Kudermetova, and Sofia Kenin are also expected to compete in the WTA 500 hard-court tournament in Seoul. The field also includes Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Świątek in the US Open quarterfinals, and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The tournament offers Świątek a chance to bounce back from her New York disappointment and continue building toward the end of the 2025 season. With her foot blister now behind her, she’ll look to return to full health and regain the dominant form that carried her to the Wimbledon title earlier this year and her 11th WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati.
