Iga Swiatek does it again! The 2025 Wimbledon champion just capped off an electric return to the Asian swing, making a statement after missing part of the region’s events last year due to “personal reasons,” and a one month doping ban. Fans were eager to see how the Pole would perform after a strong American run, where she won Cincinnati and reached the US Open quarterfinals. She didn’t disappoint. Swiatek lit up the Korea Open, blazing into the final against Ekaterina Alexandrova and grabbing yet another trophy. It wasn’t a stroll, though, and the tension didn’t just come from her opponent across the net.

On Sunday, Swiatek edged past the Russian in an intense three-set rollercoaster. The final score: 1-6, 7-6, 7-5. That first set loss put the World No.2 on edge, with Alexandrova threatening to run away with it. Alexandrova spoke at the trophy ceremony and masked her feelings with a subtle nod at the match’s drama, “Thank you for coming today. You are an amazing crowd,” she said.

“It was such a pleasure to play in front of you tonight. Thank you so much guys. I want to congratulate Iga for such a great week and such a great result. She’s such a great player. It’s always super difficult to play her. I tried to do my best today. It wasn’t enough, so maybe next time I’ll do a bit better. Congrats to you and your team. I wish you all the best for the rest of the season,” She added. Was that a sly dig at the tension between Iga Swiatek and her team?

There was definitely drama after the Russian took the opening set. The Pole struggled to settle, even shooting pleading and ‘shush’ gestures at her team during a changeover. Swiatek, clearly fired up, clasped her hands in a praying motion toward her box. In the end, it turned for her, but Alexandrova, the 2022 Korea Open champ, might have noticed the tension.

This latest trophy adds momentum for Swiatek as she eyes her next event, but it’s that raw exchange with her team that lingers. Is there real trouble in Swiatek’s camp? There’s no way to know for sure. For now, she celebrates a third title of the season, with her game on point, even if her box stole the spotlight.

However, it must be noted that Iga Swiatek’s win at the Korea Open marked her 57th match victory of 2025, the most on the WTA Tour this year. Later, she was candid and warm after the match. “Honestly, I don’t know how I won it, because you were just playing great,” she told Alexandrova. “I just tried to stay alive.” She also made a playful nod to her family legacy, joking that this win made up for her father Tomasz’s Olympic medal miss. “I’m happy that I could win here because of the family history,” she said. “My dad couldn’t win the Olympics, but at least I won this tournament, so hopefully he’s going to come here next year to enjoy everything.”

With this strong finish, Swiatek has a real shot at challenging Aryna Sabalenka for the world number one ranking, especially with Sabalenka withdrawing from the China Open due to a minor injury. Sabalenka currently leads with 11,225 points, while Swiatek sits on 8,433. This coming after her injury setback at the US Open is a big deal for the Pole.

Iga Swiatek opens up about her loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Ahead of the Asian Swing, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek took some time off in New York to rest and recover from a foot injury. The exact cause isn’t fully known, but it was enough to throw her off her game against Amanda Anisimova in the US Open quarterfinals.

Speaking to Dzien Dobry TVN, Swiatek opened up about what held her back against Anisimova. “Every top athlete is always a little dissatisfied if they don’t win a tournament. It was very chaotic for me in terms of what happened behind the scenes,” she admitted. The 24-year-old revealed, “I had a foot problem, a typical strain injury. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious or anything that would require a long break.”

That week was tougher than expected. Ahead of her match against Anisimova, Swiatek was spotted grimacing on the practice court, sitting with her shoe and socks off, clearly in pain. But she isn’t dwelling on the loss. “I’ve gained a lot of experience; I’ve never had problems like this before. We’ve learned our lesson and will take care of my foot,” she said. The injury didn’t force her out, but struck at the worst time under New York’s bright lights. For a player chasing the biggest trophies, even small setbacks weigh heavy.

Swiatek assured fans she’s ready to bounce back—and her opening matches at the Korea Open proved it. She dominated her first three matches in Seoul, recalling the unstoppable streak she had during her 37-match winning run in 2022. The Pole dropped only 10 games in six sets, defeating Sorana Cirstea, two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova, and rising star Maya Joint. Meanwhile, Ekaterina Alexandrova fought back impressively after dropping her opener but looked more comfortable in later wins.

Now Iga Swiatek heads into the China Open with one title already in the bag. The question is, can she keep the momentum going and claim back-to-back wins? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!