Warning Signs for Świątek: A Critical Weakness Exposed! [OPINION]

Iga Świątek secured a 7:5, 6:0 victory over Dayana Yastremska, booking her spot in the Dubai quarterfinals. While the win itself is a major positive, the match also highlighted a significant issue the Polish star needs to address.

In the third round of the Dubai tournament, Świątek faced an opponent she hadn’t played in six years—long before she ascended to the top of women’s tennis. Keen tennis observers could have anticipated that this would be an extremely challenging match for her.

Yastremska plays a style of tennis that Świątek seems to struggle with the most. The Ukrainian strikes with extreme power, takes risks, stays on the offensive, and pushes opponents deep behind the baseline—much like Jelena Ostapenko, Świątek’s well-known nightmare. The Pole has never won a match against Ostapenko, and Yastremska’s first-set performance followed a similar script.

In the early stages, Świątek seemed helpless at times, unable to counter her opponent’s aggressive game. At one point, Yastremska led the winners count by an astonishing 15:2 margin. While Świątek made fewer unforced errors, her inability to impose her game was apparent—something that was also evident in her recent loss to Ostapenko in Doha.

Even though Świątek took the first set 7:5, it was largely due to Yastremska’s own mistakes in key moments rather than Świątek dominating the exchanges. Those who only saw the final score might assume that Świątek had a minor dip in form before cruising in the second set. However, the reality was different—Yastremska picked up an arm injury, took a medical timeout, and was visibly struggling. As a result, Świątek won the second set 6:0 without much resistance.

Looking ahead, it would be beneficial for Świątek and her coach, Wim Fissette, to work on strategies against power-hitters. She may not face an opponent like Ostapenko or Yastremska in every tournament, but she needs a clear tactical response for when she does—especially in Grand Slam matches where the stakes are highest.

Despite this concerning pattern, one shaky match does not erase Świątek’s chances of success in Dubai. A more accurate test of her form will come in the quarterfinals, where she will face either Peyton Stearns or Mirra Andreeva.