It was supposed to be a double-duty day for Iga Świątek at the Korea Open. Rain had already disrupted the Korea Open schedule on Friday, forcing the cancellation of all singles quarterfinal matches. That meant when Saturday, September 20, arrived, Iga Świątek was staring at a packed day: she would play both her quarterfinal and, later, her semifinal in a single stretch. But the Pole stepped into court against Barbora Krejciková with laser focus and won. Before she stepped onto the court again, she still took a moment to acknowledge her fans. 

It took just an hour and 25 minutes for Swiatek to edge out Krejcikova with a scoreline of 6-0, 6-3. But, with that, she has also equaled Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina for most semifinal appearances (5) in WTA hard court events this season. Swiatek’s post-match reaction said it all: “Thank you guys for coming and being here every day.. Even when it’s raining. It’s been really lovely.” 

Overwhelmed with the support, she even pledged to come back next time in Seoul. “I feel a lot of support. I’m happy to be here and experience that. For sure it’s gonna motivate me to come back the next years.” But even though she thanked the crowd for their support,  Świątek was no stranger to battling unpredictable weather— rain delays and washed-out schedules have actually even helped her before. 

Take the WTA Finals in Cancún in 2023, for example: her semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka was suspended after just a few games, forcing her to regroup and return later with a clearer head. A similar story unfolded at the Bad Homburg Open in 2025, where an hour-long rain delay could have been a disruption, but Swiatek used it to her advantage, quietly solving crosswords and staying mentally sharp before stepping back onto court to claim the win. Even shorter pauses, like those at Indian Wells or the Miami Open, offered her unexpected breathing room. 

By the time she faced her Korea Open quarterfinal and semifinal double-header, Świątek had already learned how to turn rain-induced chaos into a rhythm all her own. And believe it or not, that might even have helped her perform the way she did against her first-time opponent, Maya Joint.

Iga Swiatek shares honest thoughts about her prospects in Seoul

Świątek wasted no time establishing control against Maya Joint, racing through the first eight games before the Australian teenager managed to hold serve. Joint, who had earlier upset third-seeded Clara Tauson, struggled to find any rhythm against Świątek’s aggressive baseline play and precise serving. The Pole capitalized on nearly every break-point opportunity, converting six of ten chances, while Joint could manage just one of four. Świątek’s first serve landed at an impressive 74% success rate, helping her dictate points and limit Joint’s opportunities to mount a counterattack. By the end of the hour-plus match, Świątek had wrapped up a 6-0, 6-2 win, continuing her perfect run at the WTA 500 event.

After the match, Świątek reflected on her approach and mindset: “I’ll just focus on myself and on the goals that I had before and continue to do what I was doing throughout the tournament, because it’s been working. The final is supposed to be the toughest, and it always produces a different kind of stress, so I’m just happy that I’ve already played solid matches here.”

With the victory, Świątek set up a final against second-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova on September 21. She holds a 5-2 record against Alexandrova on tour and will look to extend her 2025 season momentum with her 56-13 record already.