Swiatek Admits Lack of Strength After Loss, Responds to Criticism Over Refusing to Shake Referee's Hand by Revealing the Truth

Right after the year-end finals group match between Swiatek and Rybakina concluded, off-court discussions quickly emerged. Topics included why Swiatek was humiliated with a "bagel and breadstick" comeback and accusations that she refused to shake the referee's hand after losing, suggesting she couldn't accept defeat!

Because these questions arose immediately after the match, it seems the final result no longer matters as much; the truth behind these issues is undoubtedly more intriguing, and people are eager to find out the answers.

Before their year-end finals group encounter, Swiatek and Rybakina had met four times during the 2025 season—at the United Cup, Doha, the French Open, and Cincinnati—with the Polish player winning every time. In the United Cup, Doha, and Cincinnati, Swiatek won in straight sets, while at the French Open she came back from behind to beat Rybakina.

Holding a winning streak advantage, many were shocked to see Swiatek lose to Rybakina in such a humiliating way with a "bagel and breadstick" comeback, wondering whether the Polish player was physically unwell or if her form had drastically declined.

After the match, when asked about the reason for her loss, Swiatek did not mention any physical discomfort or other excuses, simply stating, "I lost to Rybakina this time purely because my level wasn’t enough."

“I know her serve is one of the best among female players. Facing her powerful serve, I had no answer. Rybakina’s serve stayed strong throughout the last two sets, and I couldn’t figure out how to counter it. Also, on my serve, her return game was very aggressive, putting me under huge pressure. I quickly lost the match under that pressure. I have nothing to say about losing to Rybakina; she deserved to win this match. Of course, I will also carefully review my shortcomings.” A player with six Grand Slam titles humbly attributing her loss to lack of ability while praising her opponent is clearly a modest way to elevate Rybakina. Apart from a slightly underwhelming first set from the Kazakh beauty, her performance in the next two sets was nearly perfect, which Swiatek honestly acknowledged.

Rybakina explained her quick 3-6 loss in the first set by saying, “I felt she played really well from the start, and I was a bit slow to warm up, so I lost many points on my serve, allowing her to break me. It was really tough.”

From the second set onward, the Kazakh player seemed completely transformed. In Rybakina’s own words, she got fully into the rhythm and improved her serve. As she expressed satisfaction with her own performance, it also signaled trouble ahead for Swiatek.

Once Rybakina regained her form, Swiatek’s performance noticeably declined. The Polish player’s first serve percentage was as high as 90% in the first set but dropped to 50% by the end. Meanwhile, Rybakina’s first serve percentage surged to 83%, leaving Swiatek in a highly disadvantageous position.

If only her serve had dropped while other aspects remained stable, Swiatek might have still competed against a red-hot Rybakina. However, her unforced error count escalated dramatically—from just 6 in the first set to 36 from the second set until the end—causing shock among observers.

Rybakina, already a tough opponent when playing well, was even harder to face. As one netizen put it, Swiatek struggled to find a balance between steadiness and aggression, making the awkward final score understandable and her loss unquestionable.

Regarding Swiatek’s post-match comment that she lost to Rybakina due to insufficient ability, many see this as the true fearsome quality of the six-time Grand Slam champion. Some say that when Swiatek acknowledges a crisis, it means she is about to make a strong comeback.

For example, at last year’s Paris Olympics, after losing a lead in the second set to Zheng Qinwen and dropping the match in straight sets, Swiatek showed in the subsequent bronze medal match a return to her normal form and peak condition, making her opponents have little chance.

Additionally, after the match against Rybakina, a controversial incident attracted public attention: Swiatek was accused of being upset about losing and refused to shake the referee’s hand, walking away with her bag. This sparked criticism accusing the Polish player of being “unable to accept defeat.”

To calm the controversy, Swiatek promptly revealed the truth angrily, saying, “After the match ended, I first returned to my seat to put down my racket, then shook hands with the referee. I am not someone who can’t accept losing. I ask some fans not to use this incident to tarnish my image.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River’s Starry Sky)