In the midst of her commanding performance at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has once again captured the spotlight—not just for her blistering forehands and pinpoint precision but for a cheeky comment that’s set the tennis and music worlds buzzing. The Polish tennis sensation, fresh off a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Sorana Cîrstea to reach the quarterfinals, jokingly suggested she might have inspired Taylor Swift’s surprise announcement of her new album, *The Life of a Showgirl*. The claim, delivered with Swiatek’s signature wit, stems from her recent admission of newfound admiration for Ariana Grande, a revelation that’s added a playful twist to her well-documented Swiftie fandom.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, has long been open about her love for Taylor Swift, crediting the pop icon’s music for helping her navigate teenage struggles and even learn English. “When I was younger and kind of confused about life and when I was a teenager, when I listened to her, I didn’t feel alone,” she once said, reflecting on how Swift’s lyrics resonated with her. Her devotion reached new heights in 2024 when she attended Swift’s Eras Tour in Liverpool, where she received a handwritten note from the singer, leaving her in tears. “I cried twice,” she recalled, “First, I cried just because I saw her… And then, I get a handwritten note from her, so then I cried again.” But at the Cincinnati Open, Swiatek’s musical horizons expanded, thanks to a transatlantic flight and a movie that shifted her perspective.
On her journey from Europe to North America for the hard-court season, Swiatek watched the film adaptation of *Wicked*, starring Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch. The performance left her awestruck. “I was always a Swiftie, so when Taylor was big in 2014, 2016, Ariana also was big—but I was kind of comparing them and I liked Taylor more,” she admitted. Grande’s triple-threat performance in the musical, however, won her over. “I gained huge amounts of respect for her talent,” Swiatek said, noting that the *Wicked* soundtrack has found a place on her playlist. This admission came just days before Swift’s surprise announcement of *The Life of a Showgirl*, revealed at 12:12 a.m. on August 12, 2025, during a podcast appearance with NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce. With a mischievous grin, Swiatek quipped that her public praise for Grande might have nudged Swift to drop the news, a playful nod to the friendly rivalry between the two pop titans’ fanbases.
The timing of Swift’s announcement, which followed a series of cryptic Instagram posts and a countdown clock, sent Swifties into a frenzy. Swiatek, however, missed the initial reveal. “I wasn’t awake… wait, it was 12:12 a.m.? I was awake, but I was not on the internet,” she laughed, confessing she caught the news later and reacted with an “Oh my god.” Her candid response, shared during a Tennis Channel interview, showcased her relatable charm as a self-proclaimed “not the best kind of Swiftie” who doesn’t always keep up with the latest fan theories. Yet, her enthusiasm for Swift’s music remains undimmed, with favorites like *Speak Now*—which she credits for feeling like “watching a movie”—and “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart” from *The Tortured Poets Department* resonating deeply with her experiences on the court. “Tennis can be heartbreaking, and then you have to go on court and play again,” she noted, drawing parallels between Swift’s lyrics and the resilience required in her sport.
Swiatek’s lighthearted claim has sparked a wave of amusement among fans, with some on social media joking that her *Wicked*-inspired comments might have prompted Swift to remind the world of her own star power. Beyond the playful banter, Swiatek’s focus remains on her game. Her Cincinnati performance, where she leaned on her heavy topspin to exploit the high-bouncing conditions, signals her intent to carry momentum into the US Open. “I wanted to be more solid than in my last match because I felt like sometimes I made mistakes I didn’t want,” she said of her strategy against Cîrstea. As she prepares for her quarterfinal clash, Swiatek’s ability to balance her on-court intensity with off-court charm—whether engaging with fans or joking about pop culture—continues to endear her to audiences worldwide. Whether or not she truly inspired Swift’s latest move, one thing is clear: Swiatek is serving aces in both tennis and entertainment.
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