Dominika Cibulkova, the former world No. 4 from Slovakia, has offered a candid and fascinating take on Iga Swiatek's recent struggles, insisting the Polish star has the tools to return to the very top of the WTA rankings.
Speaking exclusively to Tennis365, Cibulkova argued that Swiatek's recent losses have had more to do with her own mental state than her opponents' quality. Her diagnosis was direct: Swiatek has been losing against herself. She went on to say that when Swiatek is mentally locked in and feeling strong, very few players on tour can handle her.
It is a compelling argument when you consider Swiatek's record. The 25-year-old has accumulated 25 WTA titles, including six Grand Slams: four at Roland Garros, one at the US Open, and one at Wimbledon. She has spent 125 weeks at world No. 1 across two stints, finishing both 2022 and 2023 at the summit. Her most recent spell at the top ended in October 2024, with Aryna Sabalenka holding the position since then.
Swiatek's title defence at Wimbledon this year ended in a third-round defeat to Alex Eala, leaving her eighth in the current WTA rankings. Despite that setback, Cibulkova remains firmly in her corner, expressing certainty that a return to No. 1 is achievable.
Cibulkova, who retired in 2019 after losing to Sabalenka twice during her final seasons, acknowledged Sabalenka's power game but made no secret of where her loyalties lie. Swiatek, she said simply, is her favourite player.
Confidence, she stressed, can evaporate after just one bad match, making mental resilience the defining factor going forward.
TennisDraw users have consistently backed Swiatek deep into tournament brackets, reflecting the wider belief that her best tennis is far from behind her.
