Stracony finał Świątek. Pierwszy taki przypadek. Teraz pod lupą Sabalenka – Interia Sport

The current form of Aryna Sabalenka has become a focal point of professional tennis analysis as the tour prepares for Roland Garros. Following a series of unexpected exits, experts are drawing parallels between Sabalenka’s current trajectory and a specific period of struggle experienced by Iga Świątek earlier in her career.

The scrutiny intensified following Sabalenka’s performance in two major tournaments leading up to May 14, 2026. In Rome, the Belarusian was eliminated in the 1/16 final by Romanian player Sorana Cirstea, who won the match 2:6, 6:3, 7:5. This followed a disappointing quarterfinal exit in Madrid, where Sabalenka lost to Hailey Baptiste after failing to convert six match points.

Parallels to Świątek’s Past Struggles

During a discussion on Tennis Channel, former world number nine Andrea Petković highlighted a historical precedent involving Iga Świątek to contextualize Sabalenka’s current dip in form. Petković pointed to the January 2025 Australian Open, where Świątek suffered a defeat against Madison Keys with a final score of 7:5, 1:6, 6:7 (8-10).

That match was significant because it marked the first time in Świątek’s WTA tour career that she lost a match after having previously held a match point. According to Petković, this event preceded a period of difficulty for the Polish player that lasted until her victory at Wimbledon.

When Iga Świątek lost the match with Madison Keys at last year’s Australian Open, it was her first time in a main circuit match—I don’t know the results of all her junior matches—when she lost, having previously had a match point. It had never happened to her before in the WTA tour. And then she had difficulties until Wimbledon.

Andrea Petković via Tennis Channel

Petković questioned whether Sabalenka might be entering a similar phase of crisis. However, former British tennis player Mark Petchey offered a different perspective, stating that he believes these setbacks will not negatively impact Sabalenka’s preparations for Roland Garros.

Świątek’s Dominance in Rome

While Sabalenka faces questions about her form, Iga Świątek has demonstrated high-level performance at the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome. Świątek has advanced to the semifinals after a series of decisive victories.

Her path to the semifinals included a hard-fought opening match against American player Caty McNally, which Świątek won 6:1, 6:7 (5), 6:3. She followed this with dominant performances against Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula, with Cocciaretto managing to win only one game during her entire match against the Pole.

WTA Ranking Shifts and Upcoming Matchups

The volatility of the top rankings has also affected Jelena Rybakina, who, along with Sabalenka, entered the Rome tournament as a favorite. Rybakina was eliminated after a closely contested match against Elina Svitolina. Despite winning the first set 6:2, Rybakina lost the subsequent two sets to the Ukrainian.

This result sets up a semifinal clash in Rome between Iga Świątek and Elina Svitolina. The simultaneous exits of Sabalenka and Rybakina have prompted analysis from international observers, including the Russian portal championat.com, which cited American columnist Matt Zemeke.

The analysis suggests that the advantage Sabalenka and Rybakina previously held over the rest of the field has diminished on clay courts. The report noted that while Świątek appears to be gaining momentum, the other top-ranked players have remained stagnant over the most recent two weeks of competition.