Iga Swiatek gets heart warming message from Casper Ruud after alarming defeat

Kevin Palmer
Add as a preferred source on Google
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud
Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud

Iga Swiatek’s alarming slump in form hit a new low as she crashed to a 6-1, 6-1 defeat against Coco Gauff at the Madrid Open, with her emotional reaction on court giving a graphic insight into the challenges she is currently facing.

Defending champion Swiatek fought back from losing the opening set 6-0 against Madison Keys in the previous round, but she had no answer to Gauff in an erratic display that ended with a 6-1, 6-1 defeat.

Swiatek has not won a title since Roland Garros last year and appeared to shed tears on court as she covered her head for a long period during the match.

There were jeers from some of the crowd as Swiatek threw in a host of unforced errors, with the Pole walking off court after being beaten in just 65 minutes.

“I feel like I haven’t been moving well and the tennis was also on and off for most of the tournament,” she told reporters in Madrid.

More Tennis News

Iga Swiatek set for huge WTA Rankings blow after shocking Madrid Open exit The 9 women to bagel Iga Swiatek: Madison Keys the first since 2021

“Today, everything kind of collapsed tennis wise. I wish I would have moved better. I know how I can move and usually I didn’t have to think about it much but for the last weeks it hasn’t been that easy.

“I couldn’t really get my level up. Coco played good, but, yeah, I think it’s on me that I didn’t really move well, I wasn’t ready to play back the shots with heaviness, and with that kind of game, it was pretty bad.

“So I wasn’t really sure what I have in my tool box, you know, but, for sure, like I didn’t even have a plan B because nothing was working today.”

There was concern expressed by some social media users after Swiatek’s reaction, with world No 15 Ruud sending the Polish star a message on X as he sent her some support.

“Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up,” wrote Ruud. “Like millions of other people, I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!!”

Swiatek will doubtless welcome the support from Ruud, but the bigger concern will be her collapsing form ahead of her defence of the Italian Open title, with that tournament getting underway next week.

She will then head to Roland Garros looking to defend the French Open title she has made her own in recent years, but there is a big danger she will be demoted to No 3 in the WTA Rankings when they are updated on Monday.

Gauff is now just one win away from returning to the No 2 position that would match the highest she has achieved in her career, but she will need to beat world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to reach that goal.

READ NEXT: Iga Swiatek makes ‘plan B’ admission after being thrashed by Coco Gauff at Madrid Open

Related Articles