© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike
Iga Swiatek blamed tiredness and exhaustion following her shock Dubai exit as the Pole admitted she just didn’t have the energy to play her game or make the required adjustment on the court against Anna Kalinskaya.
Swiatek, who played four matches last week and won the opening WTA 1000 tournament of the year in Doha, saw her seven-match winning streak come to an end on Friday. Against 40th-ranked Kalinskaya, Swiatek entered as the big favorite considering her recent form but it was the Russian qualifier who claimed a 6-4 6-4 win.
“I didn’t have power anymore to give even more, which doesn’t happen often,” Swiatek said after the match. “I just felt out of control a little bit because of that. Usually when I tell myself what to do, I can improve my game. Today I was so out of power and tired that I just couldn’t.”
Swiatek ‘angry’ after the loss
Although it was quite a tricky and difficult to handle situation, Swiatek still felt “angry” with her loss and failing to also win Dubai and leave the Middle East with back-to-back WTA 1000 titles. While Swiatek wasn’t happy with herself , she made sure to acknowledge Kalinskaya’s great performance and give credit to the 25-year-old Russian.
“I mean I’m angry but on the other hand, there aren’t many players that actually survive these kinds of tournaments so I just kind of have to let it go and accept it,” Swiatek said.
“Today I would say, I mean she played well and for sure she deserves to be in the final, but I feel like it was more about me and my level. I wanted to be focused on myself and I wasn’t really able to implement any tactics that I had.”
Now, Swiatek will likely take a few days off to rest and recharge after two long weeks in Doha and Dubai. Then, Swiatek will go to the United States for Indian Wells and Miami.