It was back in June last year, under the lights of Philippe Chatrier, that Iga Swiatek outclassed Jasmine Paolini in signature style. But since then, the tides have shifted for the former World No. 1. In 2025 alone, she’s reached three semifinals, only to fall short each time. Even her crushing loss at the Madrid Open recently left her in a state of visible heartbreak. Yet, amid the agony, came a spark of encouragement from none other than Casper Ruud. Offering a timely dose of wisdom, the Norwegian reminded Iga of her greatness, planting seeds of belief that may just reignite her fire for what lies ahead. Wondering what the 26-year-old ATP ace has said? Let’s find out.
The World No. 2, Iga Swiatek, faced a stunning 6-1, 6-1 defeat at the hands of Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open SF, marking a painful end to her title defense. The five-time GS winner, who’s known for her clay-court prowess, seemed uncharacteristically out of rhythm, committing 28 unforced errors during the match.
Tensions ran high as Swiatek also received a code violation for audible obscenity, underscoring her frustration on the court. Coming off a QF loss in Stuttgart, this one-sided match has dealt another blow to her confidence as she looks ahead to critical title defenses at the WTA 1000 in Rome and the French Open.
Immediately after the match, Iga’s emotions were raw! She sat on the bench, face buried in a towel, openly sobbing under the Madrid sun. The heartbreaking moment didn’t go unnoticed, as The Tennis Letter posted the clip on X, captioning it with a series of broken heart emojis: “Iga .” The scene struck a chord across the tennis world, sparking an outpouring of support for the Pole.
Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up
Like millions of other people I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!! https://t.co/zV2lQE4kKq
— Casper Ruud (@CasperRuud98) May 1, 2025
Among those offering encouragement was Casper Ruud as well. The Norwegian star shared the post on his own X timeline, voicing heartfelt support for his fellow tennis colleague. He wrote, “Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up Like millions of other people I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!!”
On the men’s side of the draw, Ruud is carving out his own inspiring narrative. After a frustrating early exit at the Barcelona Open, the Norwegian star opted for a mental reset, and it paid off. He bounced back strong at the Madrid Open, powering his way to the SF and reminding everyone of his clay-court brilliance. Ruud’s path wasn’t easy, especially facing Daniil Medvedev, a player he had never defeated in previous matchups.
In the SF now, Ruud is set to take on Francisco Cerundolo, a matchup that promises fireworks. And as Ruud continues his Madrid mission, Swiatek, despite the devastation, has shared her candid emotion after her loss in the SF against Coco Gauff.
A visibly shattered Iga Swiatek reflects on Madrid semifinal exit
Iga Swiatek’s recent struggles continued dramatically as the Pole endured a crushing 6-1, 6-1 defeat to Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open SF. It marked the first time since 2019 that Swiatek won only two or fewer games in a match across any surface. The former top seed’s title drought deepened, as she failed to reach the final once again, highlighting a surprising dip in form for one of the most dominant players in recent years.
Thursday’s SF saw Swiatek lose six straight games for the second match in a row. Just a day earlier, she had recovered from a 0-6 first set against the recent AO champion Madison Keys in the QF, and in her opening round, she narrowly escaped after trailing teenager Alexandra Eala by a set and a break. The last time she had suffered such a lopsided loss was back in Birmingham in 2019, when a well-known rival, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, who beat Iga recently at Stuttgart, routed her 6-0, 6-2.
Following this crushing defeat, Swiatek offered a raw and candid reflection. “I feel like I haven’t been moving well,” she said. “The tennis also was like on and off, you know, for most of the tournament. So I wasn’t really sure what I have in my tool box. I didn’t even have a plan B because nothing was working today.”
Later, she assessed that her movement was the reason she collapsed on the court against Coco. “I feel like I wasn’t even in the right place with my feet, you know, before the shots. I wish I would have moved better, because I think that would get me an opportunity to bounce back, because this is usually what happens. But today for sure I didn’t move well,” she added.
Iga will be eager to rise again as she prepares for the Italian Open starting May 9. Will Rome witness her grand resurgence and crown her once more? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Teary-Eyed Iga Swiatek Finds Unexpected Comfort as 26YO ATP Star Publicly Supports Her After Madrid Open Heartbreak appeared first on EssentiallySports.