Linette Stuns Swiatek in Miami, From a Set Down

Magda Linette won just two games in her previous meeting with compatriot Iga Swiatek. That was 2023—this is now.

On Thursday in Miami, the 34-year-old flipped the script in stunning fashion, rallying from a set down to defeat the former Miami champion and six-time major winner, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

The victory snapped Swiatek’s run of 73 consecutive wins in opening matches at WTA-level events, and marked Linette’s seventh career Top 5 victory.

Swiatek had not lost an opening match at any event since falling to Maria Sakkari at the 2021 WTA Finals.

Linette, meanwhile, improved to 9-2 in deciding sets in 2026.

What did the No. 50-ranked Linette do to turn her fortunes around?

“I’m playing better than last time, and I have a little bit of a better idea what to do,” she said. “I was also serving better than last time, and I was just trying to focus, to do something, to hold my serve first, to get a little bit more ahead and keep being ahead all the time, because then you might get a chance here and there, and eventually I did.

“I think that’s what was the most important—to really stay strong on my service games.”

After facing early pressure on serve, Linette was not broken across the final two sets of the match.

She broke Swiatek in the 12th game of the second set—the only break of the set—and won four of the final five games in the third.

“I just had to go for a little bit more. I had to start hitting a little bit faster, to push her a little bit more back. Don’t give her space.”

Linette has also been working with former World No. 2 and Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, known to those in the know as “The Ninja.”

She explained how Radwanska’s influence has helped her become more aggressive with her forehand.

“I’ve changed quite a lot,” she said. “I changed my forehand almost completely, so I’m a little bit more able to compete with those top players because I’m playing much flatter. I don’t really have the physicality anymore to run around for my spin forehand, so I had to change it.

“She came in and said, ‘Listen, we have to change it.’ She helped me technically, what to do, created exercises to change it during play.

“I think what was great is that [Mark Gellard and Aga] had great communication, that one could bring a new idea. We all trusted her—that she’s right.”

Linette will face Alexandra Eala in the third round in Miami.