Iga Swiatek left Stuttgart without the result she wanted—but not without something to build on.
After her three-set defeat to Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals, the former world No. 1 pointed to clear improvements in her baseline game, even as the match slipped away in its closing stages.
Encouraging signs from the baseline
Swiatek’s assessment was measured rather than reactive. While the loss stung, she highlighted a growing clarity in her ground game—something that had been inconsistent in recent weeks.
“Yeah, I mean, for sure not the result that I wanted,” she said. “I feel like my ground game was pretty okay and I see some progress compared to the last tournament. But overall, it wasn’t enough.”
That sense of structure—knowing what to do in rallies and executing with more intention—stood out as a key positive, particularly against an opponent who maintained pressure throughout.
“I felt like I knew what I was doing, which wasn’t always the case in previous matches,” she added, also noting her effectiveness on return. “I returned her first serve pretty well considering the speed, so those are positives.”
Turning point in the decider still under review
The decisive moment came early in the third set.
Swiatek led 2-0 and held a break point to extend her advantage, only for Andreeva to respond with five consecutive games. It was a swing that ultimately defined the match, and one Swiatek admitted she still needs to analyse in detail.
“Honestly, I’d need to watch the match to judge that properly,” she said. “From my perspective, I didn’t feel very confident on my serve. I felt like I could be more precise.”
She pointed in particular to a drop in serving accuracy, which allowed Andreeva to step into returns more comfortably.
“Sometimes I tried to hit the same serves as in the first set, but they landed in different places, closer to her, so they had less impact.”
Early days with new coach and a longer process ahead
The match also marked another step in Swiatek’s new coaching partnership, which she emphasised is still in its early stages.
“For now, we’re getting to know each other,” she explained. “He gives me space to figure things out. During matches I have a clear idea of what to do—it’s just sometimes hard to execute.”
That process extends beyond tactics into confidence, an area Swiatek addressed candidly.
“Without wins, confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a process that needs to be rebuilt, and it takes matches for it to come back.”
Focus on discipline over force
A central theme in Swiatek’s reflection was decision-making.
Rather than forcing points through power, she is aiming to bring more discipline into her shot selection—particularly in key moments where matches can swing.
“I wouldn’t say I want to push through with power,” she said. “I want to be more solid in my decisions, not suddenly accelerate the ball when it’s not the right moment. It’s about discipline, and that’s something that’s been missing in recent months.”
There were signs of progress, even if not yet sustained.
“There are waves. Sometimes I make good decisions, sometimes for a couple of points I don’t. But I think I gave away fewer points than in previous matches.”
No expectation of instant results
Swiatek made clear she is not expecting immediate perfection as she adjusts her approach.
“I didn’t expect to play perfectly at this tournament with the different mindset I’m trying to have,” she said. “There were moments of hesitation, and I think you could see that.”
Instead, she is focusing on extending the periods where her level holds.
“There were longer phases of good play—for example from 0-2 in the first set and at the start of the third. I need to look at what changed and draw conclusions.”
Despite the defeat, one detail stood out in her closing remarks.
“Even today, for most of the match, it was enjoyable for me,” she said. “Maybe not at the end of the third set, but mostly it was enjoyable. That’s positive.”
For now, that may be enough—a sense that the direction is right, even if the results are still catching up.