Iga Świątek was knocked out of the Miami Open by a 19-year-old ranked 140th in the world and appeared frustrated, openly criticizing her coaching team’s approach post-match.
Poland’s World No. 2 was defeated in the quarterfinals by Filipino rookie Alexandra Eala in two sets (6-2, 7-5).
The Pole received a lot of guidance from her staff during the encounter, with coach Wim Fissette and fitness coach Maciej Ryszczuk giving her courtside instructions, sports website Sportowefakty reported.
“It's all in the legs,” Fissette told her mid-match, pointing out problems with the superstar’s footwork. Ryszczuk echoed him, shouting, “Active legs!” At one point, Świątek responded to them, saying, “I'm trying.”
After the match, Świątek expressed her displeasure with her team’s in-game approach in an interview with Canal Sport.
“I don't like getting point-by-point instructions from the box—we have to analyze this situation,” she said.
The Pole received a lot of guidance from her staff during the encounter, with coach Wim Fissette and fitness coach Maciej Ryszczuk giving her courtside instructions, sports website Sportowefakty reported.
“It's all in the legs,” Fissette told her mid-match, pointing out problems with the superstar’s footwork. Ryszczuk echoed him, shouting, “Active legs!” At one point, Świątek responded to them, saying, “I'm trying.”
A slightly irked Ryszczuk could also be heard from courtside telling her, “just listen for once.”Iga Swiatek annoyed with her coach "I'm trying!" pic.twitter.com/hs7k78ugvo
— asud (@asud683385) March 27, 2025
After the match, Świątek expressed her displeasure with her team’s in-game approach in an interview with Canal Sport.
“I don't like getting point-by-point instructions from the box—we have to analyze this situation,” she said.
Eala outshines Świątek
Eala, a wildcard who has surpassed all expectations by progressing to the last four, played much of the match as if she was the World No. 2, employing some excellent forehands, surprise sliced serves and general boldness. She stunned Świątek in the first set, particularly dominating the tail end, taking a 6-2 advantage.
The second set began as the previous had ended, with Eala in control. But Świątek fought back to establish a 4-2 lead that was later cut to 5-4. The Pole’s game then collapsed and she lost three consecutive error-strewn games.
The Filipino has been a revelation in Miami, defeating Jeļena Ostapenko and Madison Keys en route to her clash with Świątek. However, there was also a sense that Świątek was battling herself as much as Eala.
The second set began as the previous had ended, with Eala in control. But Świątek fought back to establish a 4-2 lead that was later cut to 5-4. The Pole’s game then collapsed and she lost three consecutive error-strewn games.
“Some of her shots were completely unexpected. I didn't expect her to hit so flat. She went all out and hit those returns, so it wasn't easy to respond. She was quite relaxed and just went all out. She felt a good rhythm and that helped her,” Świątek said of Eala.SHE’S ONLY GONE AND DONE IT!!!!!!!! 🇵🇭
— wta (@WTA) March 26, 2025
Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala stuns World No. 2 Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 to reach the last 4 in Miami!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/xn1zNpck10
The Filipino has been a revelation in Miami, defeating Jeļena Ostapenko and Madison Keys en route to her clash with Świątek. However, there was also a sense that Świątek was battling herself as much as Eala.
World No. 2’s wavering form
Świątek’s form has been up and down since she lost in the Olympic Games semifinals last year. In September she took a brief hiatus from the sport, which coincided with a one-month suspension due to a positive test for trimetazidine, attributed to contamination from a non-prescription medication.
In October she announced that she was parting ways with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, expressing her desire to “take the next step” in her career. Some sections of the media have also highlighted the role of psychologist Daria Abramowicz, who has worked with the Polish player since 2019.
There have been suggestions that Abramowicz’s influence has grown and may not have had a net positive impact on Świątek’s game. Tennis journalist and commentator Marek Furjan, speaking on the podcast ‘In the Shadow of Sport,’ said: “I think that Daria's function is much broader than that of a sports psychologist, but these are matters that are difficult for me to talk about.”
Prior to her defeat to Eala, Świątek had not lost to a player outside the top 100 of the WTA rankings since the 2021 Miami Open. Although this marks a low point in her season, the Pole has displayed imperious form at times, despite not winning a tournament so far in 2025.
Świątek remains the World No. 2 but has been gradually losing ground to Aryna Sabalenka, who will compete in the semifinals in Miami and holds a commanding 2,000 points-plus lead at the summit of the WTA rankings.
In October she announced that she was parting ways with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, expressing her desire to “take the next step” in her career. Some sections of the media have also highlighted the role of psychologist Daria Abramowicz, who has worked with the Polish player since 2019.
There have been suggestions that Abramowicz’s influence has grown and may not have had a net positive impact on Świątek’s game. Tennis journalist and commentator Marek Furjan, speaking on the podcast ‘In the Shadow of Sport,’ said: “I think that Daria's function is much broader than that of a sports psychologist, but these are matters that are difficult for me to talk about.”
Prior to her defeat to Eala, Świątek had not lost to a player outside the top 100 of the WTA rankings since the 2021 Miami Open. Although this marks a low point in her season, the Pole has displayed imperious form at times, despite not winning a tournament so far in 2025.
Świątek remains the World No. 2 but has been gradually losing ground to Aryna Sabalenka, who will compete in the semifinals in Miami and holds a commanding 2,000 points-plus lead at the summit of the WTA rankings.
More In Sports MORE...
