Swiatek Stunned by Linette in Miami Open Upset Shock

Iga Swiatek faced a surprising defeat at the Miami Open after losing 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 to fellow Polish player Magda Linette in the second round on Thursday.

The world number three, who entered the tournament with a bye into the second round, started strongly by dominating the first set. However, Linette, ranked 50th in the world, made an impressive comeback by taking control in the next two sets to secure one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

This defeat marks Swiatek’s first opening-round loss in 74 WTA tournaments, highlighting the rare nature of the result. It is also her first early exit since the 2021 WTA Finals.

Speaking after the match, Swiatek admitted she struggled mentally during the game. She said tennis felt “complicated” in her head and acknowledged that her performance dropped in the second and third sets. The 24-year-old added that she would focus on simplifying her approach and work hard in practice to regain her form.

Despite the big win, Linette remained humble and avoided making strong statements about the result. She said the victory meant a lot at this stage of her career but emphasized her respect for Swiatek, who has set very high standards in Polish tennis. Linette will next face Alexandra Eala in the following round.