Iga Swiatek at risk of dropping out of the top five in the WTA rankings, warns coach.

Iga Swiatek, the rising star of women’s tennis, is facing a challenging period that could jeopardize her position among the best in the world. A blunt analysis from coach Dmitry Tursunov, known for having worked with some of the biggest names on the circuit, raises serious questions about the Polish player’s future in the WTA rankings. “It is unlikely that she will be able to get out of this negative phase,” Tursunov warned, referring to Swiatek’s struggle to maintain her relevance at the top of the sport.

After a period of absolute dominance between 2022 and 2024, during which she won prestigious titles and captured hearts, Swiatek has found herself facing a consistency crisis over the past two years. Her disappointing performance between July 2024 and May 2025, where she failed to reach a final, cost her the top spot in the world rankings, now held by Aryna Sabalenka. Although she showed signs of recovery by finishing second at the Bad Homburg Open and winning her first title at Wimbledon, along with victories at the Cincinnati Open and Korea Open, the continuation of that brilliant form was short-lived.

However, 2026 brought new challenges. Despite being part of the Polish team that won the United Cup, Swiatek struggled to shine in individual competitions, suffering significant defeats in the semifinals against Coco Gauff and in the final against Belinda Bencic. Since then, her situation has worsened, with three consecutive quarter-final exits: she lost to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open, Maria Sakkari at the Qatar Open, and most recently, Elina Svitolina at the Indian Wells Open. The defeat to Svitolina was particularly painful, causing Swiatek to drop to third place in the WTA rankings, while Rybakina reached second place for the first time.

Tursunov, who has previously coached players like Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu, does not see an immediate solution for Swiatek. In a direct message on Telegram, he questioned: “How many more warning signs does Iga need, who is currently in 10th place in the WTA race for Riyadh? I have never seen her under so much pressure in her entire career, especially during the clay court competitions.” The pressure is palpable, and with the rise of Sabalenka and Rybakina as the new leaders of women’s tennis, Swiatek could quickly find herself relegated to fourth place if she fails to advance in the later stages of the Miami Open, especially if Coco Gauff continues to shine.

Although she won the WTA 1000 tournament in Florida during her dominant 2022 season, last year brought disappointment as she was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Alex Eala, a rising young star. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Swiatek, as her lack of titles on clay last season means she will not have as many points to defend, which could provide an opportunity for recovery in the upcoming competitions.

Iga Swiatek’s situation serves as a reminder that, in the world of sports, glory is often fleeting and the pressure to maintain success can be overwhelming. The competitive atmosphere of women’s tennis has never been more intense, and the Polish player’s struggle to return to the top is a narrative that all sports enthusiasts should closely follow.