Swiatek on her defeat at Indian Wells: "I lacked courage in the important moments"

Iga Swiatek will not compete in the final of the WTA 1000 at Indian Wells. The Polish player, world number 2 and defending champion, was defeated in the semifinals by Mirra Andreeva (7-6, 1-6, 6-3).

Having reached the semifinals three times in WTA tournaments this season, Swiatek has yet to reach a single final since her triumph at Roland-Garros last year.

In an interview with Canal+Sport Poland, Swiatek explained the reasons for her defeat, admitting that her opponent had been better throughout the match.

"Mirra played better and showed more courage than I did when it was needed. Of course, I remember a few shots I could have played better, but overall, I would say it was a high-level match. The wind played a significant role, and at times, it was complicated to handle certain situations when she hit the ball hard and I was playing against the wind.

I gave 100% of my abilities, but the ball didn’t always go in the direction I wanted. And when I had the wind on my side, I wasn’t able to use it to my advantage.

I probably should have played more aggressively to balance the power dynamic. But, in the end, the match turned in her favor, and that’s why she won. She played better than my previous opponents, without a doubt.

It’s really hard to judge my tournament. Of course, I’m happy with my early rounds here. Today, I wouldn’t say I necessarily played poorly, but rather that I lacked courage in the important moments. Mirra, on the other hand, played without any pressure.

Sometimes, you can feel that she’s playing her game very freely. As for me, I can’t remember the last time I played a match where I just took risks, stayed calm, and played without pressure.

When I try that, especially in crucial moments, it feels like a desperate attempt rather than something calculated. It’s hard to explain this to someone who doesn’t play tennis, but it’s a mix of instinct and intuition—it almost feels metaphysical.

But I’ll keep working so that in tense matches like these, I can be more consistent and find a way to turn things around in the future," she elaborated.