Iga Świątek’s path in doubles has looked very different from her singles dominance, and fans have noticed. The Polish star shifted her focus toward singles right after the 2021 partnership with Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and those team-ups gave tennis fans plenty to talk about from April through October that year. Now, a playful Instagram post from Mattek-Sands brings back memories of their high drama and deep friendship, so what really happened, and could Świątek ever return to doubles?
Why Did Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Iga Świątek Split Up After 2021?
It all started with a scramble at the Miami Open 2021. Mattek-Sands was desperate for a partner, and she landed Świątek just 20 minutes before the deadline. From that quick start, the duo strung together a busy six months, packing in appearances at four WTA tournaments. Their run included a semifinal at Miami, a finals berth at Roland Garros 2021, and a quarterfinal at Cincinnati. Along the way, Świątek and Mattek-Sands fought out wild comebacks, saving seven match points in the third round at Roland Garros against top seeds, and rallying from 1-5 down to win 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
That stretch featured both heartbreak and highlights. The Indian Wells Masters 2021 marked the last chapter, when the pair reached the round of 16 and lost to the second-seeded duo of Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens, 1-6, 6-4, [10-8]. After that, Świątek stepped away from regular doubles play and focused on her singles career, only popping up in occasional mixed or team events since.
Mattek-Sands and Świątek’s partnership wasn’t just unexpected, it was fun to watch both on and off the court. Their personalities balanced each other out: Mattek-Sands brought energy and a loud approach, while Świątek played things much quieter. The American veteran made sure to point out Świątek’s versatility, saying, “She can hit every shot.” Their Cincinnati run showed that chemistry, even as they fell to the Czech pair of Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková in the quarterfinals, the same duo that beat them in the Roland Garros final.
Recently, Mattek-Sands took to Instagram to poke fun at their time together, posting a photo from Cincinnati 2021 and replying to a fan question about the split:
“As you can see @iga.swiatek is very sad she stopped playing doubles… BUT I’m always here for her!”
What Does The Future Hold for Świątek in Doubles?
Świątek made her singles career the priority after that partnership ended at Indian Wells in October 2021. Since then, she’s rarely appeared in doubles draws, focusing on building her legacy on the singles tour instead. Still, tennis fans remember that wild stretch of 2021 alongside Mattek-Sands, full of last-minute entries, clutch comebacks, and high-fives after big points.
Even if Świątek doesn’t return soon, Mattek-Sands made it clear in her Instagram post that the door is always open for a reunion.
Women’s doubles final 4️⃣
🇺🇸 Mattek-Sands/Swiatek 🇵🇱 vs. 🇷🇴 Begu/Podoroska 🇦🇷
🇵🇱 Linette/Pera 🇺🇸 vs. 🇨🇿 Krejcikova/Siniakova 🇨🇿#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/RslX8OmL8U
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2021
After all, partnerships like theirs don’t just happen. The energy and trust they built showed up in every close match.
