In a moment that captured the spirit of camaraderie in professional tennis, Casper Ruud extended a heartfelt message of encouragement to Iga Swiatek following her stunning 6-1, 6-1 loss to Coco Gauff in the Madrid Open semifinals on May 1, 2025. The 64-minute defeat at the Caja Magica, one of the most lopsided of Swiatek’s illustrious career, left the world No. 2 visibly distraught, with tears streaming down her face during a second-set changeover. Ruud, fresh off his own quarterfinal victory in Madrid, took to social media to uplift the Polish star, reminding her of her profound impact on the sport and offering hope for a swift comeback. His gesture resonated deeply, shining a light on Swiatek’s vulnerability and the tight-knit support system within the tennis community.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion and clay-court titan, entered the semifinal as the favorite, boasting a 9-0 record in Madrid and an 11-3 head-to-head lead over Gauff. However, the 21-year-old American unleashed a masterclass, breaking Swiatek’s serve five times and conceding just six points on her own serve. Gauff’s aggressive play forced 28 unforced errors from Swiatek, including 21 on her forehand, exposing cracks in the Pole’s usually impenetrable game. “I couldn’t really get my level up,” Swiatek admitted in her press conference. “Coco played good, but I think it’s on me that I didn’t move well, I wasn’t ready to play back the shots with heaviness.” Her frustration spilled over early in the second set, earning her a rare code violation for an audible obscenity after shouting at her player box.
The emotional toll was undeniable. Trailing 6-1, 3-0, Swiatek draped a towel over her head during a changeover, hiding her tears as the weight of the moment overwhelmed her. “Today, everything kind of collapsed tennis-wise,” she said, reflecting on a performance that mirrored her worst clay-court loss—a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to Simona Halep at the 2019 French Open. The Madrid setback marked the end of Swiatek’s title defense and extended her title drought, with no finals reached since her fourth Roland Garros triumph in June 2024. Her 2025 season, despite a 26-8 record, has been marred by inconsistency, with dropped sets against Alexandra Eala, Diana Shnaider, and Madison Keys in Madrid signaling deeper struggles. “I’ve been forcing myself to go lower, to be more precise with my feet because it’s not going by itself,” she noted, pinpointing a loss of instinctiveness.
Enter Casper Ruud, the No. 15-ranked Norwegian and a clay-court specialist, who watched Swiatek’s ordeal unfold while advancing to the Madrid semifinals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Daniil Medvedev. Moved by her distress, Ruud posted a touching message on social media, accompanied by a video of Swiatek’s emotional moment: “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!! 😊🤩👏🎾” His words struck a chord, earning widespread praise from fans and players alike. Ruud, who has reached three Grand Slam finals and shares Swiatek’s affinity for clay, understood the pressures of elite competition, making his support all the more meaningful.
Swiatek’s defeat was a turning point for Gauff, who celebrated her first clay-court win over the Pole, narrowing their rivalry to 11-4. “I was aggressive and played with margin,” Gauff said, crediting her strategy of forcing Swiatek into “awkward positions.” Her victory propelled her into the Madrid final against Aryna Sabalenka, with a chance to claim the No. 2 ranking. For Swiatek, the loss raises questions as she heads to the Italian Open, where she is the defending champion, and Roland Garros, her stronghold. “I’m not a different player than I was in past years in terms of my attitude or my emotions,” she insisted, rejecting suggestions that her outburst signaled a shift in mindset.
Ruud’s message, a beacon of empathy, underscores the human side of tennis, where even the greatest champions face moments of doubt. As Swiatek prepares to regroup, her resilience—forged through 37 career titles and a 252-65 win-loss record—suggests she will heed Ruud’s words and return stronger. For now, his support serves as a reminder that Swiatek’s legacy extends beyond the scoreboard, inspiring millions and earning the admiration of peers like Ruud in her darkest moments.
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