"Her game is one dimensional and everyone is catching on": Swiatek comes under fire after Kudermetova defeat in Tokyo
WTA
Fans
reacted to Iga Swiatek's defeat against Veronika Kudermetova at the Toray Pan
Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan.
It was a
disappointing outing in Japan for the World No. 2 as she suffered a defeat in
only her second match on the Asian tour. With Aryna Sabalenka absent, Swiatek
entered the tournament as the top seed and managed to defeat local player Mai
Hontama (148th) with a score of 6-4, 7-5, after Hontama had advanced through
the qualifiers.
In the
second round, her opponent was the 8th seed Veronika Kudermetova (17th), who
had been going through an inconsistent period on the WTA Tour. However, the
Russian player found her form in Tokyo and reached the semifinals, despite
having a 2-5 record since the start of the hardcourt swing.
Swiatek
committed 50 unforced errors in the match, which was the highest number in her
entire career. Additionally, the Polish player has struggled in her second
matches at tournaments since August 2022 when she was defeated at the
Cincinnati Open, just a week before winning her third Grand Slam title at the
US Open.
Fans
expressed their disappointment in Swiatek's recent performance, as she has been
struggling to find her best form and recently lost the World No. 1 ranking to
Sabalenka:
"Iga's
time is up. No slam next year for her," some user wrote.
"Lol
hurts you to post this one huh? “ def wasn’t Iga’s day” ??? Are you kidding her
serve is getting exposed so much Mai did it first but didnt have the tools to
wins , Kuder did and packed her up. Safe to say her game is one dimensional and
everyone is catching on #ClayMerchant."
"The problem
with Iga Swiatek right now is what does she do if her opponents game plan is
working in combination with her making routine unforced errors on both wings
when she doesn’t have her usual baseline timing? She doesn’t seem to have a
plan B right now, besides hit harder."
Here are
some other reactions from the fans in X (former Twitter):
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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