Iga Swiatek loses: Is the world number one still the US Open favourite?

Iga Swiatek has been the best women’s tennis player on the planet this year, but is her dominance over the rest of the WTA Tour coming to an end?

The world number one was stunned by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia at the Canadian Open –– suffering her third defeat in her past six matches. 

Haddad Maia beat the Polish star 6-4 3-6 7-5 to seal a spot in the quarter-finals and throw the draw in Toronto wide open. 

“I think at the beginning I struggled to find my rhythm on the court,” Swiatek said after the match. “Probably because she’s lefty and I had a hard time adjusting to her serve. And plus the wind. I think without the wind I would manage. But it was pretty crazy out there.”

Meanwhile, Haddad Maia stressed that she was proud of her performance and was pleased with how she dealt with the occasion. 

“I knew that I had to play my best tennis,” the Brazilian said. “And also she could beat me, even if I was playing well. So I was trying to play every single point without excuse. I was trying to forget about what I did wrong, about the mistakes, and just go for it. I was just trying to live in the present. To play point by point.  

“The weather conditions we don’t control, we can’t control. So it’s not something that I can manage. So I need to deal with. And, yeah, I think I did a good mental job.”

"I'm very proud of myself and my team"