"I had quite some time to get used to the hard courts, so it’s not so rushed as it was last year" - Iga Swiatek outlines her short term goals as ranking drop looms

Iga Swiatek has not been in great form in 2026, not even reaching a WTA final let alone winning a title, something fans have gotten very used to over the years. This poor form could catch up with her in devastating fashion with a top 10 exit possible following the conclusion of the North American hardcourt swing.

The former world number one has so far not enjoyed a great campaign. Struggling for form wherever she goes on whatever surface as she slowly declines and edges further away from the WTA elite.

The latest tragic setback came at Wimbledon. A surprise but deserved winner in 2025, Swiatek went back determined to put things right in similar fashion to the year before. However, it came crashing down when an outstanding Alexandra Eala dumped her out in the third round.

She left SW19 now as the world number eight, and things could get much worse. There has been signs throughout the year of her finding her old self. At the Rome Open, the Pole reached the semi-finals after dropping just seven games against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula.

Those types of bursts are becoming seldom seen. In a desperate attempt to get back to her best, she parted ways with Wim Fissette and has started a partnership with Francisco Roig, who for years worked with Rafael Nadal. While not having the everlasting impact she would have hoped for, there is still time for them both to get it right.

Swiatek is raring to go for the Canadian Open. After spending some time switched off from tennis, she is back and ready to challenge for glory in Toronto. It is one of the only WTA 1000 tournaments she has never won with a semi-final run in 2023 her best showing.

The one good thing about an early exit from Wimbledon was that she has had plenty of time to get to grips with a return to hardcourts. “Well, you know, obviously I had quite some time to get used to the hard courts, so it’s not so rushed as it was last year, so I already feel like I had a nice two-week period of practice on hard courts,” Swiatek said during the draw ceremony.

It also gives her and Roig a great chance to knuckle down and get some work under their belt together. “The priority is basically just developing my game, because I started working with my new coach before the clay-court season, and preparing for Roland Garros and then Wimbledon, it’s not like we had such a long time of practice."

Heeding his advice, Swiatek will be hopeful of seeing improvements on the court. “Now, it was the longest, I would say, so it was nice to use that time with him and my goal is to just implement all that stuff that he wants me to use, because – before clay and before grass – my goal was to just adapt to the surfaces and – on hard courts – I feel like I can focus more on the technical stuff that Francisco wanted me to change, and that’s going to be my main focus for the next weeks.”

Swiatek lost to Clara Tauson in the Canadian Open last year at the fourth round stage. That means there are little points to defend, but the big danger comes in the following Cincinnati Open. Swiatek won there for the first time last year against Jasmine Paolini, and has to defend a huge 1000 points.

After that, she has the points from the US Open quarter-final defeat to Amanda Anisimova to recoup. A period with a lot on the line and huge pressures with it.

Once a mainstay at the top of the rankings, the 25-year-old needs to keep her wits about her incase the worst happens. She will face either Wang Xinyu or Sara Bejlek in her opening match in Toronto. There could be the chance to turn some wrongs into rights in the fourth round if she secures a matchup against Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian defeated her at Roland Garros earlier this year, and a chance for revenge may be on the cards.