Iga Swiatek continues to struggle for form on the WTA Tour as she prepares to defend her French Open title.
The five-time Major champion began the year with aspirations of regaining the world number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka.
Five months into the 2025 season, those goals seem a long way away, as Swiatek recently fell to number five in the WTA rankings, below Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.
Swiatek’s dip in form has partly coincided with the coaching change she made at the end of the 2024 season, replacing Tomasz Wiktorowski with Wim Fissette.
Some have suggested it could be time for Swiatek and Fissette to part ways, although one WTA legend has now put forward another member of the Pole’s team whom she thinks has ‘failed’ her recently.
Pam Shriver says Iga Swiatek’s sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz is ‘failing her’
Appearing on the Tennis Channel, former doubles number one Pam Shriver gave her verdict on why Swiatek has struggled in 2025.
“It’s between the ears. The anxiety,” she said.
“Whoever is in charge of her mental game is failing her, and I think that would be Daria [Abramowicz].
“They are extremely close, so I think there needs to be a change-up in the team.”
Daria Abramowicz has worked as Swiatek’s sports psychologist since the latter was just 17 years of age.
Fans online have questioned the role of Abramowicz within Swiatek’s team recently, as some suggest she spends ‘too much time’ with the Pole.
“Break up and fire Daria Abramowicz as soon as possible, you need a breath of fresh air, said one fan on X.
“Daria spends too much time around Iga [Swiatek],” added another.”
Only time will tell if Swiatek will move on from Abramowicz or Fissette, but it certainly looks like a change is needed, as she continues to struggle in 2025.
How poor has Iga Swiatek’s 2025 season been so far?
The world number five has yet to win a title this year, a reality few would’ve believed 12 months ago.
In each of the previous four seasons, Swiatek had won one or more titles pre-French Open, as she enters uncharted territory in 2025.
Iga Swiatek’s pre-French Open titles by year
- 2025 – 0
- 2024 – 4 (Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Madrid Open, Italian Open)
- 2023 – 2 (Qatar Open, Stuttgart)
- 2022 – 5 (Qatar Open, Indian Wells, Miami Open, Stuttgart, Italian Open)
- 2021 – 2 (Adelaide International, Italian Open)
- 2020 – 0
- 2019 – 0
That’s not to say she’s been poor in 2025, as Swiatek, despite her struggles, has still amassed the fourth most points of any player in the women’s game this year.
| Rank | Name | Points | 2025 Titles |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 5,120 | 3 |
| 2 | Madison Keys | 3,349 | 2 |
| 3 | Mirra Andreeva | 3,055 | 2 |
| 4 | Iga Swiatek | 2,878 | 0 |
| 5 | Coco Gauff | 2,598 | 0 |
| 6 | Jessica Pegula | 2,549 | 2 |
| 7 | Jasmine Paolini | 2,230 | 1 |
| 8 | Elina Svitolina | 1,751 | 1 |
Swiatek’s issues have often come during the latter stages of tournaments, losing the majority of her matches this year in the quarterfinals and semi-finals.
| Round | Defeats | Matches |
| F | – | – |
| SF | 4 | 4 |
| QF | 3 | 7 |
| 4R | 0 | 6 |
| 3R | 1 | 7 |
| 2R | 0 | 8 |
| 1R | 0 | 1 |
Just once has the 23-year-old lost before the quarterfinal stage, in Rome, when Swiatek lost to Danielle Collins in the third round.
Her ability to consistently reach the latter stages of WTA events, barring the minor blip in Rome, proves Swiatek still has what it takes to contend in 2025.
She needs a boost, or perhaps one big win, to truly rediscover the form that has seen her win five Grand Slams.
There’s no better place for her to do that than at her most successful tournament, where she has lost just two of her 37 matches.
Swiatek will begin her French Open title defence next week, when the tournament gets underway on Sunday, May 25.
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