"I’m definitely not a person who wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Oh, today I’m going to be confident": Iga Swiatek admits habit of winning needed to return to her best
WTASaturday, 18 April 2026 at 10:30
Iga Swiatek admitted her defeat to Mirra Andreeva at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix was not the result she wanted, but took encouragement from improvements in her game as she continues to rebuild confidence and adapt to changes in her approach.
Speaking after the match, Swiatek pointed to progress from the baseline as a key positive despite the three set loss at the Stuttgart Open.
“Yeah, I mean, not the result I wanted, for sure. I think my baseline game was fine and I see progress there compared to the last tournament. But overall, it wasn’t enough.”
The match marked another early step in her work with a new coach, and Swiatek stressed that the partnership is still in its early stages.
“For now, we’re getting to know each other, so he’s giving me space to kind of figure things out. During matches, I have a clear vision of what to do, it’s just sometimes hard to execute, so that wasn’t the main issue today.”
Against a high level opponent, Swiatek highlighted periods where she felt fully in control, even if she was unable to sustain that level across the entire match.
“I think there were moments where I felt like I was playing really well, and then there were moments where my level dropped and she played better. But in the periods where I played well, I felt in full control of what was going on. That’s something positive, you just need to keep that until the end of the match.”
Iga Swiatek reacts with clenched fist, celebrates the win of the Point against Siegemund
She also underlined improvements in clarity and execution in her baseline game, something that had been inconsistent in previous tournaments.
“I think the baseline game made sense. I felt like I knew what I was doing, which hasn’t always been the case in previous matches. I returned her first serve pretty well too, considering the speed, so these are positives.”
A key turning point came in the deciding set, where Swiatek led 2,0 and held a break point before Andreeva surged back to win five consecutive games. Reflecting on that shift, the Pole admitted she would need to review the match more closely.
“Honestly, to judge that properly, I’d need to watch the match. From my point of view, I didn’t feel very confident on my serve. I felt like I could have served more precisely. Sometimes I was trying to make the same serves as in the first set, but they landed in different places, closer to her, so they didn’t do as much damage.”
“From the baseline, I felt like I maintained my level, but it was already a long match. I’ll need to watch it back and analyse it.”
Swiatek has been open about a dip in confidence in recent months, and she reiterated that rebuilding that belief will take time and match play.
“Without wins, confidence doesn’t just come from nowhere, so I think it’s a process that needs to be rebuilt, and matches need to be played to make it work.”
“I’m definitely not a person who wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Oh, today I’m going to be confident.’ I need repetitions and good matches to have it, so I’m just going to focus on having more chances in tournaments.”
A key focus for Swiatek has been developing greater discipline in her shot selection, rather than relying on power in key moments.
“I wouldn’t say I want to break through with strength, I want to be more solid when it comes to making decisions, so as not to suddenly speed up the ball when it’s not the right moment. It’s about having discipline in my game, and that has certainly been lacking in the last few months.”
She acknowledged that implementing those changes under pressure remains a work in progress.
“There are waves, sometimes I make good decisions, sometimes for two points it doesn’t happen. But I think I wasted fewer of those balls than in recent matches. It’s definitely a process. It’s just started, and it’s hard for me to judge what it will look like, but I believe we will move forward.”
Not expecting immediate perfection
Swiatek also admitted she did not expect immediate perfection as she adjusts her mindset and approach.
“I didn’t expect to play so well in this tournament with the different attitude I’m supposed to have, so there were moments of hesitation, and I think you could see that.”
“But I focus on the fact that there were longer moments of good play, for example from 0,2 in the first set and then at the beginning of the third set. I have to watch and see if I changed anything, what she did, and just draw conclusions.”
Beyond the technical aspects, Swiatek was also asked about the importance of personal qualities in her coaching team, given the demands of the tennis calendar.
“I spend a lot of time with my team because we travel together and the season lasts 11 months, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to and spend time with off the court. Someone with a good sense of humour and social skills is nice.”
However, she made clear that her immediate priority remains rediscovering her form and confidence on court.
“At this stage, it’s not the priority, because I’d like to rebuild my game and feel good on the court, and I think I did feel good, even today.”
“Even today, this match was a pleasure for me for most of the time, maybe not at the end of the third set, but for most of the time it was a pleasure. That’s positive for me, because it’s not the last time.”
“I want to enjoy this game, believe in what I’m doing, rebuild my confidence on the court, and move forward.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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