After a four-year span without posting consecutive losses, it’s now happened to the 24-year-old on three occasions since the 2025 WTA Finals. (she fell to Gauff and Belinda Bencic during the tail end of her nation’s run to January’s United Cup title and was lost her latter two round-robin matches in Riyadh to Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova)
“I think I am a bit confused. There’s no way but forward,” Swiatek said in the mixed zone afterwards. “I’m gonna try to work hard to get back to that. I have it in me, I just lost it for a second, the game.
“Tennis feels complicated in my head. I know it’s supposed to be simple. In terms of my mentality and how I feel on the court, it’s going to take a while.”
The former world No. 1’s loss prevents a Miami rematch with Alexandra Eala, who memorably knocked out Swiatek to reach the semifinals of this WTA 1000 last year. Linette is 2-1 against Eala, though the Filipino turned the tables to win their Auckland quarterfinal in straight sets earlier this season.
