Iga Swiatek has provided an update on her physical condition ahead of the 2025 Australian Open after suffering an injury scare in her defeat to Coco Gauff at the United Cup. The world No. 2 was beaten 6-4 6-4 by the American tennis star in the first match of Poland’s 2-0 loss to the United States in the final in Sydney.
Hubert Hurkacz’s 4-6 7-5 6-7(4) loss to Taylor Fritz in an extremely tight second rubber confirmed a second consecutive runner-up finish for Poland at the United Cup after they lost to Germany in the 2024 final. Swiatek was up a break in both sets against Gauff, but she could not convert her leads as she fell to just her third defeat in 14 matches against the 20-year-old American.
When trailing 5-4 in the second set, Swiatek took a medical timeout to have strapping applied to her left thigh. After her defeat, the 23-year-old left the court in tears and appeared to be walking gingerly. The Polish tennis star had also received treatment on her right thigh earlier in the tournament during her match against Katie Boulter and wore strapping in her semifinal win against Elena Rybakina.
With the Australian Open beginning on January 12, concerns naturally arose about Swiatek’s fitness. After the match, she was heard telling her team that her leg was “painful,” which led to her medical timeout.
Iga Swiatek Addresses the Injury Concerns
When addressing the situation, Swiatek clarified that her leg discomfort was not a result of a serious injury but rather fatigue from the intense workload of the tournament. “Well, taping wasn’t a different leg, but nothing happened really,” Swiatek explained. “Like, I was just tired. You know, the volume at the beginning of the tournament especially has been pretty big, so yeah, but honestly, like, this really, it’s all good.”
Strong Start to 2025 Despite United Cup Disappointment
In Team Poland’s press conference after the final, Swiatek emphasized that fatigue, not a new injury, was the primary cause of her leg issues. Despite falling short in the final, Swiatek’s performances during the United Cup were impressive. Before her loss to Gauff, she secured victories against Malene Helgo, Karolina Muchova, Katie Boulter, and Elena Rybakina. Additionally, she and Hubert Hurkacz remained unbeaten in their mixed doubles matches.
Swiatek highlighted her confidence heading into the Australian Open, stating that she feels well-prepared after her strong campaign at the United Cup. “It’s been a good start to the season, and I feel ready for Melbourne,” she said.
Despite Poland’s back-to-back heartbreak in the United Cup finals, Swiatek reached ten United Cup singles wins during the event, showcasing her consistency and resilience. Her focus now shifts entirely to Melbourne, where she aims to add another Grand Slam title to her illustrious career. The tennis world will eagerly watch how the five-time Grand Slam champion performs at the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
