Tennis sensation Iga Swiatek has taken the sports world by storm, both on and off the court. As the first to arrive at Tennis Paradise for the Indian Wells Masters, the Polish tennis star took a moment to engage with her fans, sharing a bit about her musical tastes and her admiration for pop icon Taylor Swift.
Swiatek, like many on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) circuit, is a self-proclaimed “Swiftie,” a term affectionately used to refer to Swift’s fan base. Swiatek’s devotion to the American singer-songwriter is well-documented, as she was once moved to tears during Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Liverpool. The former World No. 2 later shared her emotional reaction on social media, expressing her awe at Swift’s performance.
When asked about the album that solidified her status as a Swiftie during a Q&A at the BNP Paribas Open, Swiatek named “Speak Now” as her favorite. She explained that it was one of the first albums she listened to, and she was captivated by Swift’s lyricism and storytelling. Despite her limited English proficiency at the time, she found herself learning from the album, equating the experience to watching a movie due to Swift’s vivid descriptions of the world.
“Speak Now,” released in 2010, was Swift’s third studio album. It topped the charts in many countries and marked Swift as the first woman with four albums on the top 10 Billboard charts. The album had a profound impact on Swiatek, as did one of Swift’s songs, “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart,” from the 31-track double album “The Tortured Poets Department.”
Swiatek, who has faced her share of heartbreaks in the world of tennis, related to the poignant song. She admitted that tennis can be a heartbreaking sport, requiring athletes to recover quickly and return to the court, regardless of their emotional state.
But 2025 has been a challenging year for the Polish No. 1 player, with her last title win being the French Open in June 2024. A doping controversy led to a one-month suspension, and her title defense at the Indian Wells is shrouded in concern after a former professional player commented on her stress levels on the court.
Swiatek returned for the 2025 season with high hopes, but her desired success has remained elusive. Her attempt at the Australian Open title was thwarted by Madison Keys, and her performance during the Middle East swing was less than stellar.
Lindsay Davenport, a tennis commentator, noted Swiatek’s increased stress levels on the court. She suggested that the change in coaching staff might have contributed to this, as Swiatek parted ways with longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and started working with Naomi Osaka’s former coach, Wim Fissette, last year. Despite not winning a title under Fissette’s guidance, Swiatek has praised the coach’s support through her doping controversy.
As Swiatek gears up for a crucial week in Tennis Paradise, she’ll be looking to channel her idol, Taylor Swift, and shake off the hardships of the past, focusing on perfecting her game and eyeing another win.