Iga Świątek gave her thoughts on losing the World No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka. The Pole had a 125-week stay at the top of the WTA rankings but she is currently eighth.
Iga Świątek on “Moment of Bitterness” about Losing No. 1 Ranking
Świątek had two spells at the top of the WTA Rankings, the second of which came to an end during last year’s Asian swing, when Aryna Sabalenka overtook her. The Belarusian has held the No. 1 spot ever since, and the Pole’s performances during the 2025 season only saw her drop down.
Świątek won the French Open and both WTA 1000 titles on clay in 2024 but underperformed in each of those tournaments in 2025, leading to her falling to eighth in the rankings.
Speaking to Polish outlet Sport, the 23-year-old said that whole she does not think of the ranking every day, there was a time after the Australian Open when she had a moment of bitterness about losing it.
“It’s not like I think about it every day. My perspective doesn’t change in this context. Even when I was the leader, I always said that I didn’t look at the rankings. And it still is. However, when I came back in February after the Australian Open, I actually had a moment when I felt a lot of bitterness about how I lost that ranking. But then I focused on work,” Świątek said.
The Pole said that like many people, she also got used to being at the top of the rankings but noted that it would be a constant due to the growing competition in tennis.
“I think that many people got used to being higher in the ranking, and I did too for a while. But sports work a bit differently. Anyone with common sense knows that not everything is constant in sports. Other girls are developing too, there is constant competition,” Świątek said.
“I won’t always be first. However, on a daily basis, when I work, train, play matches, I don’t think about it at all. I know what tools I have and what I can show on the court. The fact that I play with the number doesn’t change that,” she added.
Iga Świątek Scheduled to Start Grass Swing at Bad Homburg Open
Świątek is yet to play a match since her French Open semifinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenka. However, the Pole is expected to play her first tournament on grass at the Bad Homburg Open, where she is seeded fourth.
The Pole’s previous appearance at the tournament came in 2023, when she reached the semifinals before withdrawing. Świątek is next scheduled to compete at Wimbledon, a Grand Slam where she has had just one quarterfinal appearance.
