"We're at fault, the press, journalists and TV commentators" - Chris Evert blames media for blowing Iga Swiatek's rare losses out of proportion

Iga Swiatek is still the player to beat, says Chris Evert after the World No. 1 withdrew from the 2023 Miami Open with an injury. Evert stated that the media and commentators, including herself, should refrain from questioning the Pole's competence whenever she loses a match.

Elena Rybakina outperformed Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last week. This was followed by the three-time Grand Slam champion complaining about discomfort in her ribs. Although she reached Miami to defend her title, the aggravated injury forced her to pull out.

Speaking to Eurosport, 18-time Major winner Evert suggested that journalists and commentators should neither exaggerate Swiatek's dominance nor her losses.

"I think we're at fault. The press, journalists, and TV commentators are at fault because we talk about her dominance and let's be careful with this," Evert said. "But when she has numbers like that [37-game streak in 2022], it appears that she's dominating, and that's going to put pressure on anybody."

The American icon cited Aryna Sabalenka and Rybakina's growth and remarked that they had started to challenge the World No. 1 player.

"But at the same time, I think two players, in particular, have emerged: Sabalenka with the improved serve, even though the serve let her down at Indian Wells, was playing with more focus. She's a different player this year. And then Rybakina, she's solid as a rock and she's got such great technique that very little can go wrong under pressure," she said.

Evert praised Swiatek and was confident that she would return stronger after the injury setback.

"But that being said, we're so quick to say someone's dominant and then we're so quick to say 'Oh, they're in trouble. What do you think? Their career is in trouble?' No, Iga is still the No. 1 player in the world. No matter how you look at it, she still is the player to beat."

"Iga wins 99% of her matches playing like Iga. But against the power players, she and her coach have to devise a plan. But I'm sure they're going to go back to the drawing board and figure it out," she added.

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Iga Swiatek acknowledges rivalry developing with Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina (L) and Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek was recently asked if she saw herself, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina ahead of the rest of the field. The Pole stated that there were many others on the tour who were playing well.

"There are many players who play great tennis. On the other hand, last year you could say that about me and Ons [Jabeur] little bit. So I think we need, like, couple more tournaments or couple more months to kind of judge that," Iga Swiatek said.

She added that having played Sabalenka and Rybakina multiple times, a rivalry was surely emerging.

"I played against Aryna, I don't know, six times last year, and against Elena twice this year already. You can see that there's like maybe little bit of a rivalry," she added.