Iga Swiatek is gearing for a comeback after the US Open. She had been on a roll since Wimbledon, where she lifted the trophy in just 57 minutes against Amanda Anisimova in the final. After that, she carried the momentum into Cincinnati and claimed the crown there too. The New York slam, which could have given her a second US Open title since 2022, just wasn’t in the cards this time. But the Pole isn’t too down about it!

The World No.2 is back on court after some much-needed rest and recovery. The break felt almost inevitable after her disappointing exit in New York. Now she’s ready to hit her first tournament post-slam. Speaking to Dzień Dobry TVN, she explained what really held her back at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“Every top athlete is always a little dissatisfied if they don’t win a tournament. It was very chaotic for me in terms of what happened behind the scenes,” she admitted. She didn’t stop there. The 24-year-old revealed the issue that made things even trickier that fortnight. “I had a foot problem, a typical strain injury. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious or anything that would require a long break,” she said. The setback caught her by surprise.

Ahead of her match against Anisimova, Swiatek was spotted on the practice court looking in pain. She sat on a bench with her shoe and socks off, grimacing as she moved her foot. However, the loss doesn’t sting as much anymore. In fact, she’s choosing to see it in a positive light. “I’ve gained a lot of experience; I’ve never had problems like this before. We’ve learned our lesson and will take care of my foot,” she added.

During the Open, she fought through the pain the only way she could—by taking painkillers. It wasn’t the kind of injury that forced her out, but it struck at the worst time, under the lights in New York. And for someone chasing the biggest trophies, even those small details weigh heavy.

Now fully recharged, she’s already eyeing the packed schedule ahead. And busy it is. “We have a lot of WTA 1000 tournaments (the next ones are in Beijing and Wuhan – ed.). Each one is mandatory and could significantly impact the rankings. All the top players will be there, so it will be a challenging time. I’m excited,” she said with a grin. The Pole is back, eager for another test.

But isn’t she tired? She did admit it would be a “challenging time.” Yet, as she reminded everyone at the US Open, the problem was never the matches. It was her foot, but what truly caused it?

Iga Swiatek’s foot injury raises questions

So while Iga battled through her foot struggles in New York, fans couldn’t help but wonder: What really caused it? In tennis, it could be anything. The sport demands sharp cuts, sprints, and slides, and injuries happen. Sometimes it’s a rolled ankle, a fall, or even shoes that cause blisters. Some even suggested her mixed doubles run with Casper Ruud had something to do with it.

“There were theories that the cause of the injury was the mixed doubles match at the US Open,” said coach Wim Fissette. But he was quick to dismiss it, pointing instead to the brutal heat and Swiatek’s sliding style. “I’m not one to judge whether the mixed doubles made things worse,” Fissette admitted, as reported by Tennis Up To Date.

“I talked to Maciej [Ryszczuk – ed.] about it. I asked him if it was something we shouldn’t have done, looking back. He didn’t think it made much difference. The root of the problem turned out to be the tournament in Cincinnati, where it was really hot, which in Iga’s case, with her sliding and intense movement, is even more important. I think it was just bad luck.”

The frustration was natural—injuries sting when you’re chasing the sport’s biggest prizes. Fissette admitted they’ll adjust next time. “There are always problems, and every time you look back, you think. Okay, maybe this could have been changed a bit. But I think things just happen. We have to accept it. Of course, we’re trying to learn from it and see how we can do things better,” he explained.

In the meantime, Swiatek has reset. The world No.2 spent a few calm days in Seoul and now leads the WTA 500 field as top seed. Despite a tough draw, she’s still the favorite in Korea. Best of all, she’s pain‑free. “I haven’t been practising a lot because I needed time to recover and to do everything to just be ready to play matches,” she said. “So physically, I feel great. I feel like I need to practice some more, but I don’t have any pain or anything. It’s all good.”

So, its good news for fans, and with her first Asian swing since 2023, all eyes are on whether she’ll make it count. Will she surpass expectations and take it all? Let us know what you think in the comments below!