Former (and future?) WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek is back, though in a completely different way than many expected. She took a dip in form halfway through 2024, changed coaches, revamped her game, and came back strong after a bit.
There was a month-long suspension near the end of the year, and one might have wondered if she would ever come back before she, well...came back. But it wasn't on her beloved clay that she rebounded. She now has a more powerful forehand and is getting in and out of the corners on grass and hard courts better.
She might not be ranked No. 1 anymore, but Swiatek is likely a more well-rounded player. More dangerous at Wimbledon, which she proved by winning the event this year, and while she has won a US Open, she has rarely been a favorite entering the last major of the year.
Iga Swiatek defeats Elena Rybakina in the semifinals of the 2025 Cincinnati Open
This year, she might be. She is showing as much at the Cincinnati Open.
After sweeping through Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets in the quarterfinals, she faced an in-form Elena Rybakina. Rybakina has the kind of game that translates well to harder surfaces, but it just didn't do that against Swiatek.
The Pole, and current WTA No. 3, got the break she needed to take the first set 7-5. This was after the Kazakhstani came out extremely hot with her serve. That Swiatek didn't wilt in the heat and power of Rybakina proves her resolve. She might not be the best player ever, but few in history can rival her mental strength. An opponent has to beat her twice in a match to beat her once, quite often.
The second set was slightly easier. Rybakina was playing from behind early. On a hot and steamy Cincinnati day, the Kazakhstani would have had to play an extra set to take out Swiatek, and she didn't appear capable of beating the Pole in any given game.
Swiatek played smarter in the bigger points, saving all but one break point, but taking three games off Rybakina's serve. She also took advantage of Rybakina's second serves, winning 53 percent of the points.
In the end, Iga Swiatek took the match 7-5 6-3. She will next play the winner of the Jasmine Paolini and Veronika Kudermetova match. Kudermetova has only two titles in her career, but none since 2023. Paolini has won one title in each of the last two years.