Iga Swiatek, the 24-year-old Polish tennis superstar and reigning Wimbledon champion, faced an unexpected stumble at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, falling 7-6(1), 6-3 to Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the fourth round. The defeat, which ended Swiatek’s nine-match winning streak and her hopes of reclaiming the world No. 2 ranking, was a rare off-day for the six-time Grand Slam champion. Yet, in the aftermath of the loss, Swiatek took to social media with a heartfelt and classy message, reflecting on her performance with characteristic humility and determination. “For sure in the tiebreaker I just made too many mistakes,” she admitted, offering a candid assessment as she sets her sights on the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, starting August 24.
Swiatek entered Montreal as the No. 2 seed, riding high after her stunning Wimbledon triumph in July, where she defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to claim her sixth Grand Slam title and end a 13-month trophy drought. Her Canadian Open campaign began with clinical wins over qualifier Hanyu Guo (6-3, 6-1) and Eva Lys (6-4, 6-2), dropping just eight games combined. “I have already proved a lot,” Swiatek had said earlier in the tournament, pushing back against scrutiny from Polish media about her form. However, against the 22-year-old Tauson, ranked world No. 19, Swiatek struggled to find her rhythm on a breezy center court. Tauson, who avenged her 6-4, 6-1 Wimbledon loss to Swiatek, played what she called “unreal” tennis, dominating the first-set tiebreak and capitalizing on Swiatek’s errors to secure her second career win over a top-five player.
The match was a tactical masterclass from Tauson, who broke early to lead 2-1 and saved seven of eight break points with her powerful serve, third in the WTA for aces this season with 264. “I felt like I had a bit better luck in my returning games, and obviously she started with a double fault in the next game, which gave me a little bit more confidence,” Tauson said, highlighting her composure in critical moments. Swiatek, despite rallying to lead 6-5 in the first set, faltered in the tiebreak, surrendering it with a double fault. In the second set, she saved two break points but another untimely double fault handed Tauson a 5-3 lead, which the Dane sealed when Swiatek’s backhand found the net. “I didn’t really problem solve enough, and for sure I did too many mistakes from balls that I could play,” Swiatek reflected, pinpointing her inability to adapt as a key factor.
Swiatek’s social media post struck a balance of accountability and optimism. She acknowledged Tauson’s superior play, noting, “Clara went up there with momentum,” and expressed gratitude to the Montreal crowd for their support. Her message resonated with fans, who praised her sportsmanship on platforms like X, with one post noting, “She fought till the end and showed heart, as always.” The loss marked Swiatek’s earliest exit from a WTA 1000 event since 2024 and followed a pattern of upsets in Montreal, with top seed Coco Gauff, third seed Jessica Pegula, and fourth seed Mirra Andreeva also falling early. Despite the setback, Swiatek remains a favorite for the US Open, where she won her first title in 2022 against Ons Jabeur.
The defeat offers Swiatek a chance to reset before Cincinnati, a critical stop in her US Open preparations. Her 44-12 win-loss record this season, bolstered by a 3-0 head-to-head lead over Tauson prior to Montreal, underscores her resilience. Tauson, now projected to reach a career-high No. 17, advances to face Madison Keys, who saved two match points to defeat Karolina Muchova. Swiatek’s ability to learn from losses has defined her career, as seen in her 2022 US Open run after early hard-court struggles. “I know people want more and more, but it’s my own process,” she said, emphasizing her focus on growth. With her sights set on reclaiming her best form, Swiatek’s Montreal stumble is likely a mere detour in her quest for another Grand Slam crown.
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