TENNIS: Swiatek wants to simplify her game after shock opening defeat in Miami

MIAMI – Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek suffered a shock 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 defeat to world No. 50 Magda Linette at the Miami Open on Thursday, marking her first opening-round loss in 74 WTA tournaments.

Swiatek, ranked world No. 3 and receiving a second-round bye, dominated the first set but saw Linette turn the match around in a stunning upset.

“Tennis feels complicated in my head,” Swiatek said. “I know it's supposed to be simple. In terms of my mentality and how I feel on court, it's going to take a while.”

The 24-year-old admitted her tactical game faltered in the second and third sets, contributing to her first opening defeat since the 2021 WTA Finals. “It just was a bad match for me … I need to work to get back from that, because I haven't felt things like that for five years,” she added.

Swiatek said she would focus on practice and simplifying her game. “I'll just get back to work, try to get something positive out of the practices and try to figure it out,” she said.

Linette, 34, downplayed the significance of her win. “I don't like to make a fuss about it … Iga sets such a high standard that's often not reachable,” she said. Linette will face Alexandra Eala next. -Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters