“It was really unfortunate timing”: Iga Swiatek puts Madrid illness behind her ahead of Rome

Iga Swiatek returns to the Rome Open with a dual objective: re-establish competitive rhythm and stabilise a clay-court season that has yet to fully develop. “I was completely off,” she said of Madrid, where illness disrupted her preparation and performance. Rome now functions as a key corrective point ahead of Roland Garros.

The Polish player arrives with limited match volume on clay, holding a 2–2 record across Stuttgart and Madrid. That sequence has slowed early-season momentum and places added weight on Rome as her final high-level test before Paris, where she has built much of her career success.

Swiatek’s historical performance at the Italian Open provides a contrasting baseline. She has won the title three times (2021, 2022, 2024) and enters with a 21–3 record at the event, making it one of her most reliable tournaments in terms of output and consistency.

However, her most recent appearance at the Foro Italico ended below expectation, with a third-round exit to Danielle Collins in 2025. That result, combined with her current form line, frames this year’s campaign as both a recovery attempt and a performance checkpoint ahead of the French Open, where she is a four-time champion.

Swiatek provided a direct explanation for her Madrid performance, attributing it primarily to illness rather than technical or tactical issues. The Pole’s level dropped during her third-round match against Ann Li, eventually forcing her to retire due to stomach issues (6–7, 6–2, 0–3, ret.).

“My Madrid tournament was tough. It was really, like… shitty, literally," Swiatek said during her last press conference. "So yeah, I was completely off, like, day before the match. The day I played also I was not good, like no energy at all.”

The impact extended beyond match day, with lingering physical effects that would have prevented a return to full performance level even with additional time in the tournament. “Honestly, day after it was a bit better, but still I don't think I would be able to play normal.”

Her recovery, however, progressed quickly once symptoms subsided. Swiatek opted to minimise travel and prioritise stability before resuming full training in Rome. “But in two days I was already fine. I recovered. I had some time to stay there and not really travel because I don't think it's safe to travel when you're so, like, fragile.”

That decision enabled a complete reset upon arrival in Rome, where she resumed practice at full intensity. She also noted that illness was not an isolated case during the tournament period. “Then I came here and I was able to practice fully from the beginning 100%. Quickly I was back. It was really unfortunate timing. Honestly, yeah, many players got sick, so I don't think there was anything we could do to avoid it.”

Swiatek also addressed ongoing discussions around prize money distribution, particularly in the context of Roland Garros. Her comments reflect a broader concern among top players regarding revenue share rather than headline prize increases.

She indicated that while prize money may rise in absolute terms, the proportion allocated to players can decline, reinforcing the need for structured negotiation with governing bodies. “Honestly, it's about different situations over the last years. There have been, like, many discussions in like top-20 group, not specifically related to prize money, but also the war in Ukraine.”

These discussions have also covered scheduling and ranking systems, particularly following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 period. Swiatek highlighted improved communication among players, although she acknowledged delays in collective responses.

“Sometimes players after COVID, there was a bit of mess in terms of the rankings, also prize money and points. I think we have, like, good communication between us. Sometimes if it's an important topic, we are ready to speak together.”

Despite alignment on key issues, Swiatek rejected more extreme responses such as boycotts, pointing to the individual nature of the sport. “Also the same thing happened with scheduling when the changes have been made about mandatory tournaments. Unfortunately we were a bit late in terms of the reaction. I think we have, like, pretty clear and similar vision.”

“But boycotting the tournament, it's a bit extreme kind of situation. I don't know. I guess we as players are here to play as individuals, and we're competing against each other.”

From a performance standpoint, Swiatek emphasised continuity in her development, particularly with recent adjustments to her game. She framed Madrid as a missed opportunity rather than a structural setback. “Of course, I have a long-term vision. As I said, it's also not that these changes are going to appear after, like, three weeks.”

Her frustration stemmed from the contrast between her training level and the inability to translate it into results during Madrid. She suggested that her form entering the tournament had justified higher expectations. “I felt really good in Madrid with my game. If I would feel terrible and I would get sick, I don't care. Okay, maybe that wasn't my tournament.”

The broader outlook remains consistent with the demands of the tennis calendar, where rapid adaptation is required between events. “But I felt really good with my game. I felt like I also had good results before, so I wanted to use the experience and everything. Yeah, I was for sure disappointed.”

“Like, when things happen out of your control suddenly in tournaments, you've been preparing for it for days, it's sad. But like in tennis you have many chances. If not Madrid, the next one. If not here, the next one. We can also quickly refocus on some other goals.”