US Open: After conquering grass, Iga Swiatek looks to crack the hardcourt code

Iga Swiatek heads into the 2025 US Open with fresh belief and a chance to prove herself on the hard courts. Her season had started in chaos, with a doping suspension and early losses in Melbourne and Paris raising questions about her dominance. But she answered in the best possible way at Wimbledon, winning her first grass-court Grand Slam in style.

Her crushing 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the final showed that she can adapt her game to any surface and silenced many of her critics. The Polish star also stood firm against harsh coverage back home, openly challenging the media for doubting her commitment and her team.

With that breakthrough, she became only the eighth woman in the Open Era to win majors on clay, grass, and hard courts. Now, boosted by her Cincinnati triumph, she arrives in New York aiming to finally master the hardcourt challenge.

Can Swiatek Repeat Her 2022 Heroics?

When Iga Swiatek lifted the US Open trophy in 2022, even she admitted it wasn’t her finest tennis. Fatigue and inconsistency forced her to make adjustments mid-tournament, yet she still found a way to grind through and defeat Ons Jabeur 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the final.

That title not only gave her a third Grand Slam but also made her the first Polish woman to progress past the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows and the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova in 2008 to claim three majors in a season.

Despite being more celebrated for her French Open hat-trick, 2022 proved she could win big on hard courts too.

Now, after a commanding run to the Cincinnati Open crown—her first at the event and 11th WTA 1000 title—Swiatek appears re-energised.

Will this perfect build-up be the spark for another New York triumph? Can her growing all-surface dominance carry her past fresh challenges at the US Open?

Swiatek Gradually Climbing Back

Swiatek has endured a rollercoaster season, slipping to No. 8 in the WTA rankings earlier this year and was also in danger of dropping out of the top 10. Her dip came after failing to defend titles in Madrid, Rome, and even at the French Open, sparking doubts about her consistency.

However, a breakthrough at Wimbledon, where she had never gone beyond the quarterfinals, revived her campaign. That momentum carried into the hard-court swing, as she stormed through Cincinnati without dropping a set, sealing the title with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Jasmine Paolini in the final.

Back-to-back trophies lifted her above Coco Gauff in the rankings, restoring her place at No. 2. More than just a climb on paper, the resurgence has given Swiatek renewed confidence and vital momentum ahead of her challenge in New York.

Time for Iga Again?

The US Open is Swiatek’s chance to prove that while form may waver, true class never fades. Once down to No. 8, she has climbed back to World No. 2 with 7,933 ranking points, though still 3,292 adrift of Aryna Sabalenka’s 11,225.

Her breakthrough Wimbledon crown and dominant WTA 1000 victory in Cincinnati have reignited her season, restoring belief and momentum at the perfect time. After enduring early struggles in 2025, the Pole has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability.

A strong run in New York could underline her enduring quality and spark a genuine push to reclaim the No. 1 throne.

Iga Swiatek’s projected road to the US Open 2025 final

• 1st round: Emiliana Arango
• 2nd round: Suzan Lamens
• 3rd round: Anna Kalinskaya
• 4th round: Ekaterina Alexandrova
• Quarterfinal: Elina Svitolina
• Semi-final: Coco Gauff
• Final: Aryna Sabalenka