Poland’s Iga Świątek, ranked World No. 2, recently revealed why she chose to watch Carlos Alcaraz’s Australian Open final but missed Elena Rybakina’s championship match after her own early departure. This insight came during a press conference held before her upcoming participation in the 2026 Qatar Open.
Świątek began her 2026 Australian Open campaign with strong performances, moving confidently through the initial rounds. She defeated Yue Yuan and Marie Bouzková in straight sets, then overcame Anna Kalinskaya in a challenging three-set battle, followed by a comfortable win over Maddison Inglis to progress further.
Despite her momentum, Świątek’s quest for her first Australian Open title ended when she fell to Elena Rybakina. The Kazakh player secured a 7-5, 6-1 victory, marking her sixth career win against Świątek. Rybakina continued her strong form by beating Jessica Pegula and then World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her second Grand Slam title.
Świątek Discusses Her Approach to Watching Matches After Tournament Elimination
When asked about viewing tournament finals after her own exit, Świątek disclosed that she refrained from watching Rybakina’s final against Sabalenka but did watch the men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. She explained her motivation for this selective viewing.
No, I only watched the men’s final live. But besides that, I really needed to rest from tennis a little bit. So I analyzed what happened during my match, but I didn’t watch because I knew exactly what happened. It was pretty clear what I needed to focus on in the next tournament,
Świątek explained.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Milestone Triumph at the Australian Open
Carlos Alcaraz crowned his Australian Open journey with a victory over Novak Djokovic, securing his seventh Grand Slam win. This triumph also marked his 25th ATP Tour title, achieved remarkably in only his 86th main-draw appearance. At 22 years and 272 days old, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, surpassing a record set by Don Budge in 1938.
Looking Ahead: Świątek’s Focus Shifts to the Qatar Open
Although the Australian Open remains an elusive title for Świątek, the six-time Grand Slam winner maintains a resilient outlook as she moves forward. Her immediate goal is to regain form and confidence at the WTA 1000 event in Qatar, an important tournament that could set the tone for the rest of her season.
