Iga Swiatek launches complaint about the umpire after her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka, ‘I don’t think that was fair’

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Iga Swiatek was looking to win her fifth French Open title in 2025, but came up short against Aryna Sabalenka.

The Polish star had won the previous three editions of Roland Garros and looked to be in good shape to defend her title once more in 2025.

That was until she came up against her fiercest rival, Sabalenka, in Thursday’s semi-final match.

Sabalenka edged a nervy opening set in a tiebreaker before Swiatek fought back to send their last four clash into a deciding set.

The Belarusian quickly took control from that point on, winning the third set 6-0 to book her place in the final.

Disappointed with her first French Open defeat in four years, Swiatek reflected on a controversial incident earlier in the match during her post-match press conference.

Iga Swiatek doesn’t think the umpire was ‘fair’ during her French Open defeat to Aryna Sabalenka

Earlier in the match, Swiatek became frustrated when umpire Kader Nouni refused to come and check a mark she believed was out.

The umpire argued she took too long to ask him to check the mark, suggesting Swiatek had waited to see if she would’ve won the point regardless.

During her post-match press conference, Swiatek gave her verdict on the controversial incident.

“He was coming down to check every mark when Aryna [Sabalenka] wanted to, even when the outs were like that [holds fingers wide],” she said.

“When I had a mark that was out, he was convincing me that I only came there because I saw the return was out, and I framed my return.

“I knew from the beginning that it was going to be out, and I didn’t really look at the ball, I just went to check the mark, and I saw the mark was out.

“I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t, so I don’t think that was fair, especially when he came down every time Aryna asked him to. I don’t get it.

“But I don’t really care.”

Hawkeye later proved Swiatek was right, although that will provide little comfort to the 23-year-old who continues her search for a first WTA title in 2025.

How badly has Iga Swiatek struggled on the WTA Tour in 2025?

Not only is Swiatek yet to win a title in 2025, but she hasn’t even reached a tour-level final.

The former world number one is struggling to find form anywhere close to her best this year, on both hard and clay courts.

• 2025 French Open (Clay) – Lost in SF to Aryna Sabalenka
• 2025 Italian Open (Clay) – Lost in 3R to Danielle Collins
• 2025 Madrid Open (Clay) – Lost in SF to Coco Gauff
• 2025 Stuttgart (Clay) – Lost in QF to Jelena Ostapenko
• 2025 Miami Open (Hard) – Lost in QF to Alexandra Eala
• 2025 Indian Wells (Hard) – Lost in SF to Mirra Andreeva
• 2025 Dubai (Hard) – Lost in QF to Mirra Andreeva
• 2025 Qatar Open (Hard) – Lost in SF to Jelena Ostapenko
• 2025 Australian Open (Hard) – Lost in SF to Madison Keys

Those results have seen Swiatek tumble down the rankings to number seven in the world, her worst placement in over three years.

The good news for Swiatek is that she doesn’t have too many points to defend over the coming months.

In 2024, Swiatek participated in just the one grass-court tournament, losing in the third round of Wimbledon to Yulia Putintseva.

Therefore, she’ll only be defending 130 points on grass, gifting her a golden opportunity to charge back up the rankings.

The Pole is scheduled to compete in two grass court events this year, Bad Homburg (WTA 500) and Wimbledon (Grand Slam).

Swiatek is set to return to action in Bad Homburg when the event gets underway on June 23.