After a triumphant victory at Wimbledon, Iga Swiatek was hunting for her second Grand Slam title this year at the US Open. She breezed through the early rounds, defeating Emiliana Arango, Suzan Lamens, Anna Kalinskaya, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, securing her place in the quarterfinals.

An Unexpected Turn of Events

In the quarterfinals, Swiatek faced off against Amanda Anisimova, the hometown favorite seeking revenge for her crushing defeat at Wimbledon, where she lost 0-6, 0-6. This time, however, the tables turned dramatically as Anisimova stunned Swiatek with a 6-4, 6-3 victory, eliminating the Polish star from the tournament.

Analyzing the Atmosphere

Post-match discussions highlighted something quite noticeable: Iga's team displayed a high level of agitation throughout the match. Former players Laura Robson and Marion Bartoli commented on the dynamics in Swiatek’s player box, emphasizing the stark contrast between her team’s energy and that of Anisimova's supporters.

Robson remarked, 'Wim [Fissette] was relatively quiet, but the rest of the team seemed quite agitated. This has been a consistent theme, and it might not be aiding the situation.' Bartoli added, 'The vibe from Anisimova's box was positive and encouraging, while Swiatek’s team appeared quite aggressive in their shouting. This likely put added pressure on Iga during the match.'

Future Plans and Challenges Ahead

Following the match, footage showed Swiatek deep in conversation with her coach, visibly frustrated after her second consecutive quarterfinal exit at the US Open. While some criticized her coaching strategy, there was a spark of success earlier this year, with wins at Wimbledon and Cincinnati.

Nevertheless, the path forward appears hopeful as Swiatek prepares to compete in Seoul for the Korea Open, her next chance to regain momentum as the top seed. With additional tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan lined up before the WTA Finals in Riyadh, she aims to mirror her past success.

What’s Next for Swiatek?

The 2025 Korea Open kicks off on September 15, and Swiatek will need to channel her energy positively if she wants to reclaim her spot among the elite. With the pressure on and her toughest competitors like Aryna Sabalenka lurking, the next series of tournaments will be crucial for her championship aspirations.