“I lacked energy”: Iga Swiatek pinpoints what went wrong in Cincinnati semifinal loss
WTASunday, 23 August 2026 at 19:00
Iga Swiatek’s bid to defend her Cincinnati Open title ended with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal defeat to Jessica Pegula, bringing her 10-match winning streak to an end. The Pole had arrived in Cincinnati on the back of her Canadian Open triumph, having won nine consecutive matches before extending that run to the semifinals.
The defeat denied Swiatek a second straight Cincinnati final, while Pegula advanced to the ninth WTA 1000 final of her career. The American will now chase her fifth title at that level after surviving a match that lasted nearly three hours and featured 13 breaks of serve.
For Swiatek, the result represented a difficult end to an otherwise productive North American hard-court swing. She won her first title of the season in Toronto and put together a 10-match winning streak, giving her a significant boost after a relatively difficult opening half of 2026. She also accumulated more ranking points than any other player during the Canadian and Cincinnati stretch.
The loss will nevertheless see Swiatek drop to No. 8 in the WTA rankings and enter the US Open as the eighth seed. That could leave her on course to face players such as Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina as early as the quarterfinals, depending on the draw. However, she will head to New York with renewed confidence after her recent run and the knowledge that she has rediscovered winning form on hard courts.
Swiatek struggled to find her level against Pegula
Swiatek admitted after the match that she never felt comfortable early on, particularly as the windy conditions made it difficult for both players to find consistency on serve. The semifinal featured 13 breaks, with neither Swiatek nor Pegula able to establish sustained control behind the first shot.
“I think both of us are better returners than servers, but serving in this wind was more difficult," Swiatek said in press conference, according to Sport.pl. "I felt like I missed a lot of balls when serving, so maybe that's why there were so many breaks. We are both good returners, so we can put pressure on each other in that aspect.”
The Pole had to fight back after losing the opening set, and she managed to turn the match around in the second. Swiatek raised her level enough to force a deciding set, but Pegula recovered from a 3-1 deficit and eventually took control of the closing stages.
Swiatek pointed to her own level at the beginning of the match as one of the reasons why she had to work so hard to recover. The six-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that she lacked the energy and timing required to play her best tennis, but viewed her response in the second set as an encouraging sign.
“I’m definitely seeing progress. I didn’t feel my best in the first set. I lacked energy and couldn’t really hit the ball well. I made a lot of mistakes. So coming back in the second set and taking the opportunity was a very positive change.”
That recovery gave Swiatek a chance to reach another Cincinnati final, but the match again became extremely tight in the decider. Pegula eventually broke at 4-4 and served out the victory, ending Swiatek’s hopes of defending the title she won last year.
A positive sign before the US Open
Swiatek did not hide her disappointment, but she also credited Pegula for making the difference when the match reached its decisive moments. The American consistently looked to take time away from Swiatek and was rewarded for maintaining that aggressive approach in the final stages.
“After that, I felt like she played like that for the rest of the match," the former world No. 1 added. "In the end, just a few points decided the result. Maybe Jessica took more risks at the end of the third set. It was a decision that was right for her because she won.”
The defeat means Swiatek will leave the North American WTA 1000 swing without another final, but her overall progress across the two events remains significant. Her Toronto title ended a long wait for her first trophy of 2026, while the subsequent run in Cincinnati extended her winning streak to 10 matches before Pegula finally stopped it.
Swiatek has also moved back into the top 10 of the 2026 WTA Race in recent weeks. That puts her firmly back in contention for a place at the WTA Finals, although the US Open and the tournaments that follow will be crucial if she wants to strengthen her position before the end of the season.
New York will carry particular significance for Swiatek. She won her maiden US Open title in 2022 and will now return as the No. 8 seed, looking to build on the momentum created by her Toronto title and Cincinnati semifinal run. The draw may present a tougher path, but her recent form gives her a stronger platform than she had earlier in the season.
For now, Pegula ended her Cincinnati title defense, but Swiatek leaves North America with a title, 10 consecutive victories and renewed momentum heading into the final Grand Slam of the year. The semifinal defeat exposed areas of her game that still need work, yet her response to a difficult opening set offered a more encouraging sign ahead of her return to Flushing Meadows.
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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