Kim Clijsters has noticed an issue with Iga Swiatek that has caused her form to dip in recent months.

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Iga Swiatek is yet to win a tour-level title in 2025 losing most recently at the Indian Wells WTA 1000 tournament.

The 23-year-old was searching for a place in the final of Indian Wells when Swiatek lost to Mirra Andreeva in the last four, 6-7, 6-1, 3-6.

It was her second defeat against the Russian in as many months as Andreeva got the better of the Pole at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.

Swiatek is now 0-3 in WTA semi-finals this year, having lost to Madison Keys in Australia, Jelena Ostapenko in Qatar, and Andreeva in Indian Wells.

Ahead of her return to action in Miami, one WTA legend took the time to share her thoughts on Swiatek’s recent dip in form.

Kim Clijsters thinks Iga Swiatek is struggling with ‘tension’ and needs to ‘relax a little bit’

Appearing as a guest on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, former world number one Kim Clijsters gave her honest opinion on Swiatek’s 2025 struggles.

“With Iga [Swiatek] every tournament it’s like I have to win this,” she said.

“I feel like it’s such as must, you feel it in her tension, when she’s walking out there.

“In Indian Wells, in the players’ area, there’s a tension that is very very, not a lot of room for anything else [other] than tennis, which at times when things don’t go your way can you know…”

2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick suggested Swiatek’s discipline could in fact be hurting her.

“I see the way she kind of goes about it, it’s interesting,” he said.

“There’s this thing in sport, and probably in life really, I think our biggest strengths can become our biggest weaknesses simultaneously.

“I’ve talked about Iga’s discipline, I never think for a second she’s going to wake up and give an average not thoughtful attempt at a day, but you can run too hot, so it’s like this tightrope walk.”

Clijsters agreed, comparing Swiatek to a seven-time Grand Slam champion whom she shared a legendary rivalry with.

“Justine [Henin] was a little bit like that back in the day too I think, she reminds me a little bit of Justine when she’s out there playing,” she said.

“Personality-wise, the focus, the look at times, I see some similarities, with the hat.”

The Belgian finished off by saying what she thinks Swiatek needs to do, to turn her form around.

“You feel the tension there, the longer you have that in you, it’s just in your system, it’s going to become, it can turn into something negative,” said Clijsters.

“If you win it’s great you can relax a little bit, if you lose, or she hasn’t won a big title then that tension builds up.

“She’s constantly looking ‘Next week I’ve got to do it, this week I’ve got to do it’, if it doesn’t happen ‘Ok, let’s go, we’ve got to work harder.’

“I don’t think she’ll take a break from tennis, because she needs to relax a little bit, I don’t think she’s that kind of [player].”

How have Iga Swiatek’s performances compared to the rest of the WTA Tour in 2025?

Swiatek’s ‘tension’ may have prevented her from picking up a title so far this year, but how has she compared to her biggest rivals in 2025?

The 23-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the ‘WTA Race’, as she continues to compete at the highest level in women’s tennis.

Swiatek is on course to finish the year ranked inside the world’s top five, only trailing Andreeva, Aryna Sabalenka, and Keys.

She will no doubt look to jump up the rankings with a strong showing at this month’s Miami Open, a tournament Swiatek won back in 2022.

Swiatek beat Naomi Osaka to win the title three years ago, 6-4, 6-0, completing the Sunshine Double with a sensational victory.

The Pole will begin her campaign in Florida later this week against the winner of Caroline Garcia and Anna Bondar.