Magda Linette won just two games in her last outing against compatriot Iga Swiatek. That was 2023 and this is now.
The 34-year-old turned the tables in stunning fashion on Thursday in Miami, rallying from a set down to beat the former Miami champion and six-time Grand Slam champion 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The victory ended Swiatek’s 73-game winning streak in WTA-level tournament openers and marked Linette’s seventh career top-five win.
Swiatek has not lost her opening match at any event since losing to Maria Sakkari at the 2021 WTA Finals.
Linette, meanwhile, improved to 9-2 in the 2026 decider.
What did Lynette, ranked No. 50, do to turn his fortunes around?
“I’m playing better than last time and I have a better idea of what to do,” she said. “My serve was better than last time as well and I just wanted to focus, do something, hold my serve first, get a little bit ahead and stay ahead because then you might have chances here and there, and eventually I did that.
“I think that’s the most important thing – really staying strong on my serve.”
After facing pressure on serve, Linette was not broken in 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 last five games of the third set.
“I just need a little more. I have to start hitting the ball a little faster, push her a little further back. Don’t give her space.”
Linette also works with former world No. 2 and Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska, known to industry insiders as “The Ninja.”
She explained how Radwanska’s influence helped her forehand become more aggressive.
“I’ve changed a lot,” she said. “I almost completely changed my forehand, so I’m more able to compete with those top players because I’m hitting it flatter. I don’t really have the stamina to run my forehand spin anymore, so I have to change it.
“She came in and said, ‘Listen, we have to change it.’ She helped me with technique, telling me what to do and creating drills to change it while playing.
“What I think is great is [Mark Gellard and Aga] Having good communication can bring new ideas. We all believed her—and she was right. “
Linett will face Alexandra Ella in the third round in Miami.
