Iga Swiatek didn’t have the smoothest end to her US Open campaign. The Pole came in strong after her Cincinnati win over Jasmine Paolini and set her eyes on Flushing Meadows. She hoped to clinch another US Open crown like she did in 2022. But this year, her run ended in the quarterfinals. Amanda Anisimova stopped her in her tracks. The same player she had demolished just a month ago in the Wimbledon final in only 57 minutes. It wasn’t the finish she wanted, but the 24-year-old knows how to rewind and reset!

After saying goodbye to New York, Swiatek went quiet on social media. She usually keeps things low-key and rarely posts aside from the occasional update. This time, though, as the Asian Swing draws near, she let fans in on her plans. Alongside a photo of her on a yellow paddleboard, floating calmly on the water, Swiatek wrote, “Just few calm and mindful days before getting back to work. Ready for the Asian swing. 🧠☺️” Looks like the Pole has mastered the art of relaxing!

And why not? She’s been grinding on court nonstop since January. Even without a title in the early months, Swiatek stayed consistent. She pushed through to the quarterfinals and semifinals throughout the first half of the season. Then came her first final of the year in Bad Homburg, where she lost to Jessica Pegula. But she bounced right back! At Wimbledon, she lifted her first-ever title on the grass, turning her season into a truly memorable one!

Off the court, though, she’s had her share of struggles. Stress followed her throughout the year. And this Asian Swing is her first since 2023. Last year, she missed it entirely. The ITIA handed her a month-long suspension after her positive test for the banned substance TMZ.

The news of her doping controversy didn’t break until November 2024, but the timeline made sense. It explained why she pulled out of the China Open and other events, at the time citing “personal reasons.” Only later did fans understand the bigger picture. But this year, the narrative feels different. Everything’s moving in the right direction.

Swiatek is World No. 2 again. She holds a Grand Slam title and a WTA 1000 crown too. Now the question is—will she surge through the final stretch of the season? She did make one thing clear: she doesn’t need a mental break!

Iga Swiatek calls out journalist for odd question

Following her quarterfinal loss to Anisimova, Swiatek sat down for a post-match press conference that quickly turned tense. A journalist asked if she was fatigued, pointing to her busy season that already included 17 tournaments across singles and mixed doubles. With Wimbledon and Cincinnati victories behind her, he suggested exhaustion must be catching up. But Swiatek didn’t agree. “Well, I don’t know. It’s not like my matches were exhausting here,” she said.

That led to a prickly moment. When the reporter pushed further and asked if she needed a mental break, Swiatek didn’t hold back. “Why would you say that?” she shot back. The journalist explained his reasoning—that she had been playing nonstop—but Swiatek wasn’t having it. Her reply stung: “Well, talk to people responsible for the schedule. Do you need mental break?” As the stunned reporter asked her to clarify, she doubled down: “You look like you need mental break.”

Things only got more heated from there. When the reporter admitted that he actually did need a break, the 24-year-old challenged why he was even there. His answer? He had to see the US Open through. Swiatek’s response was short, sarcastic, and sharp: “Good luck.” The exchange sparked a wave of chatter online, especially because she has long criticized the relentless tour calendar, once even calling it “crazy, probably the toughest one in sports.” This time, though, the focus shifted to her own frustration with assumptions about her mental state.

It’s a subject she’s been vocal about. Ahead of the American swing, Swiatek told TVA Sports, “I would say for the past months the biggest misconception in some media back home was that I am depressed or sad. So that wasn’t true.” She’s open about having a psychologist as part of her team, but she insists on setting boundaries when it comes to media speculation.

Now, she looks to shift the spotlight back onto her tennis. Iga Swiatek is scheduled to return at the WTA 500 Korea Open in Seoul, kicking off on September 17. The stage is set—will she channel this fire into her game? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!