Iga Swiatek was dumped out of the China Open by Emma Navarro as the American player dominated a deciding set.
Swiatek was thumped 6-0 after taking the second set to seemingly gain control of the match.
However, Swiatek seemed to rile Navarro to up her level again and she romped home in the deciding set, breaking the top seed three times.
Swiatek has been training hard ahead of this tournament, but it’s now firmly a case of back to the drawing board for the world number two.
Sky Sports Tennis pundit Liam Broady was left speechless watching the Polish performer in action against Navarro.
Photo by China Open Official 2025/VCG via Getty ImagesLiam Broady stunned by something Iga Swiatek did against Emma Navarro
Broady watched on as Swiatek was way off her best form and the amount of unforced errors she produced was nothing short of shocking.
It’s not expected that a player of such quality makes so many unforced errors, with 70 coming from her racket during the three-set match.
Broady said after the first set on Sky Sports Tennis: “23 unforced errors. I did not think it was going to be that high! I am speechless at that. I’m not sure Swiatek has ever hit 23 unforced errors in a set.
“She was one from one on the Navarro serve, so she has not really generated anything there either.
“The courts are quite slow conditions, so the winners are low for both players, but it looks like Navarro has asked Swiatek to hit herself out there today.”
Clearly, Broady felt that the Polish player would improve in that sense as the match wore on, but after seeing the total after the match, he was equally perplexed.
He continued: “70 unforced errors from Iga Swiatek’s racket! That’s the world number two. That is over three sets of errors. I don’t really know what to say.
“35 winners is pretty high, but I am not sure I have ever seen a player in three or five sets hit that many unforced. Navarro generated 15 break points today and only took six of them, so in theory, it could have been an even more comprehensive scoreline.”
Set 1Set 2Set 3Iga Swiatek232225Iga Swiatek unforced errors vs Emma NavarroLiam Broady delivers verdict on Iga Swiatek toilet break
It will come as no surprise that Swiatek took an extended break after losing the first set against Navarro, and this is a situation that causes debate.
Broady isn’t a fan either, it would seem, and with Swiatek taking her time during the break, which in the rules she’s allowed, he chose to offer his verdict.
He said: “I really don’t like when players do this. Is it necessary after one set? But I think she needs to reset mentally and emotionally.
“Deep breaths, focus on the basics and make Navarro beat her. 23 unforced errors in the first set, you need 24 points to win a set. Navarro hit two winners, I think, that says all there is to say.”
Navarro will now have her eyes firmly fixed on progressing even further, and playing in this manner, she could well end up winning the title.