Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked women’s tennis players, are heading into the 2026 Australian Open with contrasting narratives. On Sunday night, while Sabalenka celebrated her 22nd career title with a victory in Brisbane, Swiatek’s journey ended in tears following a defeat to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. This loss marked her second consecutive defeat ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam.
Despite the setback, Swiatek found solace in Poland’s triumph at the United Cup final. Although her personal performance was disappointing, the victory allowed her to lift a trophy, breaking a streak of near-misses for Poland, who had been the tournament’s runners-up in 2024 and 2025. However, her frustration was evident when she tossed her racquet in the team box after the match, a gesture that encapsulated her recent struggles.
By the time Swiatek and Team Poland faced the press just before 1 a.m., the mood had shifted from frustration to elation. The world number two was quick to address concerns about her health, which had been brought into question after she was seen in tears on the court twice in one week.
“Everything is fine, just super sore. I guess, first tournament of the year it costs everybody a bit differently than during the season, but I had a similar experience last year,” Swiatek explained.
Swiatek’s Strategy and Recovery Plan
Swiatek emphasized the importance of recovery and balance as she prepares for the Australian Open. She acknowledged the energy demands of team events, which, while exhilarating, can be draining.
“I’ll just get good recovery, a couple of days off. Also, I know these team events, I love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you, so I still need to figure out how to balance that maybe in the future,” she noted.
Swiatek’s match against Bencic saw her lose seven consecutive games, including a second set where she failed to win a single game. Despite this uncharacteristic performance, Swiatek remained unfazed as she looked ahead to Melbourne.
“I’m still here, nothing crazy happened. I think, it was a mix of me losing the intensity and I wasn’t feeling so sharp with movement and with my legs, I wasn’t so precise any more physically I would say,” she said.
Analyzing the Losses: A Learning Opportunity
Swiatek and her team plan to analyze the recent losses as they aim for a career Grand Slam in Melbourne. She highlighted the value of these matches against top players as opportunities for growth and improvement.
“For sure, these are good matches to analyse against really top players, especially Belinda likes to play on fast surfaces, so it was a good test, and we’re going to work now to improve some elements that didn’t work this week,” Swiatek stated.
The tight schedule poses a challenge, leaving little time for both recovery and preparation. However, Swiatek remains optimistic and committed to adapting to the demands of professional tennis.
“Still not a lot of time for that if I also want to have some recovery days, but this is how tennis is, you’ve got to go with the flow,” she added.
Looking Ahead: Swiatek’s Path to Melbourne
As Swiatek gears up for the Australian Open, her focus will be on fine-tuning her game and ensuring she is physically and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. Her resilience and determination will be crucial as she seeks to add another Grand Slam title to her impressive career.
With the Australian Open just around the corner, Swiatek’s ability to bounce back from adversity will be tested. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the world number two performs on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, results, and expert analysis by subscribing to our Sport newsletter, delivered every Monday.