Iga Świątek Struggles After Failing To 'Win Ugly' In Indian Wells Exit

The Polish star admitted her attempts to adjust her game plan were unsuccessful in her quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:42am

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Iga Świątek's bid for a third title at the BNP Paribas Open came to a disappointing end after a tough 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 defeat to Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. Świątek openly expressed frustration with her inability to execute her original game plan, saying her attempts to "win ugly" were not enough on the day.

Why it matters

Świątek's loss marks a difficult start to the 2026 season for the six-time Grand Slam champion, who has now slipped to World No. 3 in the rankings behind Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka. The defeat raises questions about Świątek's ability to adapt her game when her usual high-powered style is not working.

The details

Despite entering the match with a losing head-to-head record against Svitolina, the Ukrainian claimed a hard-fought victory. Świątek admitted she struggled from the start, saying her intuitive decisions and attempts to "push" the ball were unsuccessful, leading to uncontrolled errors. The Pole revealed she tried adjusting her string tension but the issues persisted, leaving her unable to play her preferred style.

  • Świątek's quarterfinal match against Svitolina took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • The final of the BNP Paribas Open is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Iga Świątek

A 24-year-old Polish professional tennis player who is a six-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1.

Elina Svitolina

A Ukrainian professional tennis player who defeated Świątek in the quarterfinals of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

Elena Rybakina

A Kazakh professional tennis player who has reached a new career-high ranking of World No. 2 after progressing to the final of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

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What they’re saying

“To be honest, it's hard for me to describe it in a way that makes sense because I played very poorly from the start and just couldn't dig myself out of it. Every time I tried to make a more intuitive decision and just play my game, the balls were flying completely out of control.”

— Iga Świątek

“I tried adjusting the string tension, but the balls were still flying without any control. It's hard to tell if it was the strings, my physical form, or just being too tight, but I feel like I didn't have a 'fast hand' today, no matter how hard I tried.”

— Iga Świątek

What’s next

Świątek expressed her determination to prepare strongly for the upcoming Miami Open, the main draw action of which begins on March 17, 2026.

The takeaway

Świątek's inability to adapt her game when her usual high-powered style was not working highlights the importance of developing a well-rounded skillset at the top level of professional tennis. Her struggles in this match raise questions about her ability to 'win ugly' when necessary, which will be an area of focus as she looks to regain her top form.