Iga Swiatek saw her Miami Open dreams dashed in the second round, falling to fellow Polish talent Magda Linette in a startling upset. The defeat not only ended her impressive 73-match opening-round win streak, stretching back to 2021, but also sparked views from Rick Macci.
Macci, who had predicted that Swiatek would go far in the tournament, shared that her form remains strong and that her challenges are more mental than physical.
Iga Świątek Stunned by Magda Linette as Mental Struggles Come Into Focus
Swiatek charged into Hard Rock Stadium as the No. 2 seed, fresh off campaigns at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Indian Wells. Reaching the quarterfinal round in each tournament showcased her consistency and world-class skill set.
However, in Miami Gardens, Florida, the tide shifted for the world No. 3, who last clinched the Miami Open title in 2022 after defeating Japanese star Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-0. Swiatek suffered a shocking loss in the second round, losing to world No. 50 Linette with a final score of 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.
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The loss drew the attention of USPTA Hall of Famer Macci, who had earlier said that Swiatek might rediscover her spark and advance impressively in Miami. That rhythm, unfortunately, slipped through her fingers.
He recently shared that despite this setback, Swiatek will return to dominate, as she has cemented her feats on the court. However, he also revealed that her environment may have changed, and she is facing internal and mental pressure.
He expressed through his X post, “Iga will be fine. She is proven and a champion. Nothing has changed but it seems from 30 thousand feet some things have changed around her and as a result Mentally she is competing against herself. Never count out the Punisher because at the end of the day she will find her way. @WTA.”
Following her defeat, the Polish star, who has been a mental health awareness advocate since 2020, opened up about the intense challenges she faces. She described the experience as deeply tough and unraveling for someone at her level.
READ MORE: Danielle Collins Dismisses Iga Swiatek’s Miami Upset as ‘Unfortunate Timing’
“This is the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have,” Swiatek said. “Dropping in matches in a level like this. I need to live through this and figure it out. I’ve always been an over-thinker, but lately it’s just been so intense. It’s hard for me to get rid of many of the thoughts I have, and this used to be my strength.”
Apart from Macci, American star Danielle Collins echoed the same positive thoughts. Collins said that, given Swiatek’s top level, this defeat was due to multiple factors, including weather woes and a lack of practice.
