No need to panic: studying where Iga Swiatek goes from US Open exit and loss of world No. 1

On Monday, September 4, not long after midnight, Iga Swiatek spoke to the press following her latest loss to Jelena Ostapenko. In the same evening, Swiatek had surrendered both her US Open title and the world No. 1 ranking that she’d held for 75 weeks.

“I don't really know what happened with my game,” said Swiatek. “I felt no control suddenly. I just have to watch and see 'cause, yeah, I didn't really know why I started making so many mistakes.”

Credit many of those errors to Ostapenko’s brilliance. Per usual, Ostapenko played the only way she knows, ripping one hard, flat, and deep groundstroke after another. Most impressive of all was how Ostapenko’s relentless pace compelled Swiatek to rush her way through many a rally, particularly off the forehand. “Iga is panicking a bit when she gets outhit or is on defense,” said longstanding pro coach Craig Kardon.

One of Swiatek’s most likeable attributes has been her studious nature. Less than four years ago, Swiatek pondered if she should attend college. But a friend, Naomi Osaka, suggested Swiatek put college on hold and further throw herself into pro tennis. Several months later, at Roland Garros, Swiatek won her first of four majors.

“I need to watch,” she said following the Ostapenko match, “Maybe this will give me some answers. Overall it's just that it doesn't happen often for me when I start playing so badly. It's a positive thing overall, but I'm just surprised a little bit. I have to analyze.” Along with Swiatek’s ceaseless curiosity come other assets that took her to the top, from sharp ball-striking to first-rate court coverage. “She’s probably the best mover in the women’s game,” said WTA Tour coach Kevin O’Neill.

But as happens when a formidable number one emerges, the high bar raised by greatness concurrently sends opponents to school. “Iga’s game has been learned by other players,” said Kardon. Ostapenko, now 4-0 versus Swiatek, executed the blueprint with fantastic precision: Seize control early in the rally. The same thing happened at January's Australian Open, when Swiatek was beaten in the round of 16 by Elena Rybakina, a victory also heavily fueled by Rybakina’s exceptionally crisp serve.

“For sure I'm not happy with my performances on hard courts in terms of Grand Slams this year,” said Swiatek. Her grass and clay Slam efforts were also complicated. In the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, up against an inspired Elina Svitolina, Swiatek had moments of surprising passivity, losing that match, 6-2 in third set. And in the Roland Garros final, Swiatek labored hard. Versus first-time Slam finalist Karolina Muchova, Swiatek saw a 6-2, 3-0 lead vanish, Muchova at one stage serving at 4-3 in the third set. Though Swiatek found a way to win that day, it was fascinating to see such vulnerability revealed even on her strongest surface.

“She’s lost a little bit of that locker room mystique,” sad Kardon. “Her opponents feel they have a chance. And when you smell blood, you tend to pounce.” Prior to Ostapenko, Swiatek lost in North America this summer to Jessica Pegula in Montreal and Coco Gauff in Cincinnati, the latter for the first time in eight matches.

This is the classic pattern of a top player going from hunter to hunted. The best way to change the conversation is to get better. How will Swiatek do that?

Over the course of her ascent these last few years, Swiatek has spoken frequently about how she’s overcome tennis’ psychological challenges. Credit has often been given to Swiatek’s traveling sports psychologist, Daria Abramowicz. No doubt, the two will discuss the emotional and mental factors that have recently troubled Swiatek.

But might there also be additional focus with her coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, on matters related to tactics and technique? O’Neill thinks it would be helpful for Swiatek to broaden her line of attack by becoming more comfortable in the front part of the court. “She needs to become more of an all-court player,” said O’Neill. Some of these skills could be enhanced by playing more doubles. There’s also the matter of Swiatek attempting variations in speed and spin. As Swiatek struggled against Ostapenko, where were a few moonballs, hit high and down the middle of the court? Or short slices and drop shots? “Versus Ostapenko, you have to vary the ball to her strike zone,” said O’Neill.

Study the Swiatek Scenario and the small and big picture align: Be it against powerful opponents or the lengthy tennis journey, there is no need to panic. “She does the work,” said O’Neill. “It’s important to her.”

“For sure besides this match, which was pretty weird, I feel like I am progressing as a player,” said Swiatek soon after Labor Day began. “I have more skills. This season was—is still—the hardest part is already done for me, but this season was really tough and intense. It's not easy to cope with all of this stuff, yeah. I'm just happy that I will have time to reset a little bit.”

Frustrating as it might be for Swiatek to no longer be number one in the world, the good news for tennis fans is that she is far from world weary.