“Maybe I won too much last year — this is karma”: Iga Swiatek honest take after WTA Finals elimination

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek reflected with characteristic honesty after being eliminated from the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh by Amanda Anisimova. Despite leading by a set, the defending champion couldn’t stop the American’s comeback, falling 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2. The defeat ends Swiatek’s fifth consecutive WTA Finals appearance without reaching the semifinals, though the Polish star insists she gave everything she had on court — both mentally and physically.

Swiatek entered the decisive group-stage clash after a commanding win over Madison Keys (6-1, 6-2) and a three-set loss to Elena Rybakina. Facing the group’s only debutant, the four-time Grand Slam champion looked in control early before Anisimova’s power and consistency turned the match around. The American, who also beat Swiatek earlier this season, sealed her semifinal spot, joining Rybakina as the second qualifier from the Serena Williams Group.

The 2023 WTA Finals champion admitted she felt puzzled by the result, especially given her preparation and performance level. “Honestly, I did everything I could today, so no regrets,” Swiatek said after the match. “I felt like I was in the zone, with a positive mindset. Maybe some balls went short, but tennis is not perfect. I fought, and I really didn’t give up — it just wasn’t enough, which makes me sad.”

Swiatek, who finishes the season with four titles and a 61–13 record, had already secured the year-end World No. 1 ranking before the Finals began. But even with that achievement in hand, the Polish star admitted the defeat left her searching for answers. “When you do everything and it’s still not enough, it means you just need to get your tennis better,” she said. “I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise… so I don’t really get why I couldn’t get out of the group.”

With her trademark mix of humour and introspection, Swiatek even joked about her misfortune in Riyadh. “I don’t know, maybe I won too much last year and this is karma,” she said with a laugh. Yet behind the light tone was a genuine sense of disappointment. “It feels kind of weird. It’s not like I was expecting anything, but usually, when I put so much intensity and grit into everything, it pays off.”

Swiatek’s elimination also ends Poland’s hopes of a semifinalist in Riyadh, marking her earliest exit from the Finals since her debut in 2021. Her consistency remains remarkable — five straight appearances at the year-end event, four major titles (including the 2025 US Open), and another year atop the rankings — but the 24-year-old acknowledged that maintaining such dominance has its emotional toll. “If I keep working, maybe it’s going to pay off again,” she added.

For Anisimova, the win marked another step in her late-season resurgence. The American will next face the winner of the Steffi Graf Group, likely Aryna Sabalenka, while Rybakina is set to take on Coco Gauff — if the defending champion secures her place. Regardless of the draw, Anisimova’s back-to-back wins over Swiatek confirm her return as a major threat on the WTA Tour.

As for Swiatek, her season ends with more highs than lows: four trophies, including a major, and a fourth straight Top-2 finish. The disappointment in Riyadh may sting for now, but her words made one thing clear — she remains as motivated as ever. “I gave everything,” she said. “I’ll rest, learn, and come back stronger.”