“It’s more about tennis”: Iga Swiatek rejects purely mental explanation behind recent form slump after Eala setback

Sunday, 05 July 2026 at 13:20

Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon title defence came to an end in the third round after a 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 defeat to Alexandra Eala, in a match that exposed both fine margins in the women’s draw and the Pole’s ongoing struggle to stabilise her level across surfaces outside clay. The defeat also extended a season in which she has failed to reach a final and has not replicated her usual Grand Slam consistency.

The world No. 4 exits Wimbledon with a 2026 record of 23-12, without a title so far this year and with her best Grand Slam result remaining a quarter-final in Australia. Roland-Garros ended in the fourth round, and Wimbledon produced another early exit, reinforcing a pattern of inconsistency compared to her previous dominance as world No. 1. The drop outside the top five has added further context to her current form.

Against Eala, the match was decided in key moments rather than overall dominance, with Swiatek losing a tight first-set tie-break 11-9 before the momentum shifted decisively in the second set. Eala’s ability to vary tempo, particularly on serve, disrupted Swiatek’s return rhythm, forcing her into uncomfortable positions and preventing her from dictating early baseline exchanges as she normally would on hard or clay courts.

Statistically, Swiatek won just 44% of return points, a figure below her seasonal average, while Eala remained more efficient in neutral exchanges and capitalised on key break opportunities. The match also reflected a broader tactical issue for Swiatek on grass, where timing on return and court positioning has repeatedly been tested against opponents using slower or varied serve patterns.

“It’s much tougher to return a serve like that”: Swiatek on Eala’s disruption

Swiatek identified the serve rhythm as the key tactical problem in the match, emphasising how difficult it was to adjust despite knowing what was coming. The issue was not deception but timing, with Eala’s slower delivery repeatedly forcing Swiatek to generate her own pace from uncomfortable positions. This created a pattern where even predictable serves became difficult to control.

“It’s much tougher to return a serve like that than a normal serve. I know it was slow and I know exactly how it’s going to come, but it’s such a different rhythm than what I usually have a chance to return.”

Alexandra Eala holds racquet waiting to return.

She also highlighted the emotional weight of the opening set, which featured multiple missed opportunities and a tie-break decided by small margins after both players had chances to close it earlier. The 11-9 scoreline reflected how narrow the difference was before the match shifted more clearly in Eala’s direction in the second set.

“It was a good fight, and I know it’s hard to lose such a long set. One ball here or there could change a lot, but I wanted to be present in the second set. I made some unforced errors at the beginning, and then I felt like she was serving slower and slower, and it became tougher for me to return the serves. That was hard to accept.”

“It’s more about tennis”: Swiatek rejects purely mental explanation

Swiatek pushed back against the idea that the defeat was primarily psychological, contrasting it with earlier losses this season where she admitted pressure played a bigger role. In this case, she insisted the problem was more technical, particularly in return timing and shot execution under shifting rhythm conditions throughout the match against Eala.

“No, I don’t think it’s the same as in Paris," the 6-time Grand Slam champion said in press conference. "In Paris it was completely about me not handling the pressure well and I was firing shots.”

Instead, she pointed to execution errors and difficulty adapting to match rhythm, especially in the second set where Eala increased her control over baseline exchanges. “Today I wanted to be more calm and play more balls in, but I was mishitting half of the returns and lost many points," Iga Swiatek stated. “I was there to fight, but it wasn’t enough.”

“I don’t care anymore about results”: Swiatek explains broader reset

The most significant part of Swiatek’s press conference came when she addressed her long-term perspective on results and expectations, suggesting a shift away from outcome-based pressure after a difficult season across all surfaces. “You need to trust the process for sure. Honestly, I don’t care anymore about the results. I’ve been so focused on them that it’s hard to continue like that.”

She expanded on that idea by acknowledging that her current level is not aligned with past standards, and that expectations need to be recalibrated accordingly. The focus, she explained, must shift towards rebuilding technical consistency rather than chasing immediate results in Grand Slams or WTA events.

“I’m trying to let it go," Swiatek added. "I’m not playing well, I don’t have good results, so I’m not going to expect good results, because they’re just not happening. I’m not at that level yet. I need to work from the beginning and focus on improving my tennis.”

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.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

"This match will remain in my heart forever" - Alexander Bublik ecstatic following four-hour tussle against Tiafoe

"My shoes have to be lined up properly, my toothbrush always has to be in exactly the same position": Superstitions rule Alexander Zverev's life off court