Iga Swiatek couldn’t have asked for a better start to her season. She carried the momentum into the United Cup, where her performance against Australia’s Maya Joint was a reminder of why she remains one of the game’s most feared competitors. But it wasn’t just the win that caught attention; it was the emotional moment that followed.

In the United Cup quarterfinals on January 9, the World No. 2 defeated Australia’s Maya Joint 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes. Using relentless baseline power, the six-time major champion tore through Joint’s defenses, pushing Poland to within one win of the semifinals. But despite the lopsided scoreline, Swiatek ended the match in tears.

Just hours ago, Łukasz Jachimiak of Sport.pl shared a photo of Swiatek in tears, sparking concern across the tennis world: “Iga Swiatek breaks Maya Joint at 2:1 and cries. I hope this doesn’t mean that something hurts her, that it’s some kind of injury. #UnitedCup.”

The 24-year-old has yet to explain the emotional moment, leaving fans anxiously waiting for clarity.

For Maya Joint, however, the loss continues a difficult start to the season. Despite a strong October 2025 that included a semifinal run in Hong Kong, the Australian has struggled to match experienced opponents. That trend has continued with recent straight-set defeats, including one against Barbora Krejcikova on January 6.

Although Joint remains a dangerous player inside the top 35, the difference in consistency was clear. Iga Swiatek controlled rallies from the opening point, dictating play with confidence and precision. And perhaps that’s exactly why Coco Gauff is now sounding confident ahead of a potential United Cup clash with Iga Swiatek.

“Yeah. I’ll start with Iga. I mean, obviously we’ve played each other a lot of times. Last year I had a good match against her. Yeah, I’m looking forward to the battle. I feel like when I’m playing great tennis, it puts a lot of pressure on them. Yeah, I’m looking forward to that,” the world No. 4 said.

Regardless, Iga Swiatek has a habit of producing magic on court, serving up bagels and breadsticks as she powers her way through a draw. But after dispatching 19-year-old Maya Joint in the United Cup quarterfinal between Poland and host nation Australia, the world No. 2 was quick to downplay the illusion, joking that she was “not a fairy.” So what exactly happened?

Iga Swiatek apologizes to the crowd during on-court interview

While Iga Swiatek’s match ended quickly, attention soon shifted to her teammate Hubert Hurkacz, who was set to face world No. 6 Alex de Minaur after returning from a seven-month injury layoff. Asked by Laura Robson whether Hurkacz could keep up his impressive level, Swiatek was quick to respond with humor.

Smiling, she said, “I’m not a fairy, so I can’t predict the future!” Still, she made it clear she was impressed by Hurkacz’s comeback and praised how confident he has looked this week.

Swiatek admitted she found his return especially remarkable given the long break. She explained that after seven months away, it’s easy to forget match feelings, adding that she only experienced something similar as a teenager. According to her, Hurkacz looks stronger physically and mentally, which is why she said she would “for sure be rooting for Hubie.”

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Having just beaten Australian favorite Joint, Swiatek also addressed the home crowd with a light-hearted apology. She asked fans not to be “too loud” in their support for De Minaur, while also acknowledging the strong presence of Polish supporters in the stadium. “Sorry, guys, don’t be too loud! But I guess, honestly, in this stadium I feel like it’s kind of even,” she said.

In the end, she thanked the Polish fans for their energy and also encouraged everyone to stay for the remaining matches and continue backing Team Poland as the tie moved toward its conclusion.

However, circling back to the match, despite brutal conditions in Sydney, with temperatures soaring to 38°C during the day, Iga Swiatek showed no signs of discomfort. She dropped only 10 points on serve and said she handled the heat well. And with no visible physical issues, her tears afterward may have reflected emotional release, or the intensity of the moment rather than pain or injury.

So what really caused Iga Swiatek’s emotional moment after the match? What do you think?