Iga Swiatek joked that she was keeping her off-season work “a secret” after an emphatic start to her 2025 season at the United Cup. The World No. 2 was in dominant form on Monday, dispatching Norway’s Malene Helgo 6-1 6-0 in just over an hour to give Poland an early lead in their round-robin contest.
Ranked 402 places above her 25-year-old opponent, Swiatek was always the heavy favorite. However, the decisive nature of her victory comes as a reassuring sign following a turbulent few months leading into the new season. After her US Open exit in 2024, the five-time Grand Slam champion parted ways with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. In November, it was also revealed that she had served a one-month suspension after inadvertently testing positive for trimetazidine, a result of contaminated melatonin medication.
Despite the challenges, Swiatek has started the 2025 season with a refreshed mindset under the guidance of her new coach, Wim Fissette, known for his success with players like Kim Clijsters and Angelique Kerber.
When Andrea Petkovic asked in her post-match interview whether she and Fissette had implemented any major changes during the off-season, Swiatek playfully dodged the question.
“Well, you can have your theories–it’s a secret,” Swiatek said with a laugh. “We can talk off the camera. I guess it’s just kind of the usual stuff, you know. For sure, getting more variety on the serve and also working on my technique a bit. It’s not always about the results but also getting the technique more smooth and being able to keep the quality longer because of that.”
She quickly reassured fans, adding, “No, no. Come on. Same Iga–It’s always the same Iga. I feel good, I feel happy–I’m happy I can play tennis overall. [I’m] just taking everything step by step. Focusing on [the] Aussie swing, and we’ll see what’s next.”
A Rollercoaster 2024 for Swiatek
Many questioned how Swiatek would approach the 2025 season following her doping case and subsequent suspension, which caused her to miss three tournaments from mid-September to early October. Her split from Wiktorowski, after a highly successful partnership that yielded four Grand Slam titles and 125 weeks at World No. 1, also added intrigue to her next steps.
However, Swiatek has been keen to emphasize her stability and confidence. In her next singles match, she will face Karolina Muchova on New Year’s Day. The head-to-head stands at 2-1 in the 23-year-old favor, though all their previous meetings have been closely contested, including their epic French Open final in 2023.
Muchova also enjoyed a strong start at the United Cup, defeating Helgo in her opener as the Czech Republic edged Norway 2-1. Swiatek’s ‘secret’ improvements and her light-hearted approach suggest a refreshed mindset as she looks to reclaim the World No. 1 spot from Aryna Sabalenka. Despite winning her third consecutive French Open title in 2024, early exits at the Australian Open and Wimbledon allowed Sabalenka to surpass her in the rankings.
With Wim Fissette now in her corner, Swiatek has been focused on refining her game and bringing more variety to her style of play. Whether her “secret” off-season training will translate to more titles remains to be seen. Still, one thing is sure–the Polish tennis star is ready to embrace the challenges of 2025 with her trademark intensity and humor.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
