Sometimes, controversy overshadows even the biggest victories on court, and that’s what happened with Polish superstar Iga Świątek at the US Open. After grinding out a tough three-set win over Suzan Lamens to book her place in the third round, the world No. 2 faced the media.
But instead of all the focus being on her performance, the spotlight shifted when a Polish journalist asked in their native language if she had ever thought about getting beads in her hair. The bizarre question struck a nerve, with Świątek visibly bristling, highly unlikely of her actual demeanor.
How Did the Reporter Justify His Question After It Left Iga Świątek Bristling at the US Open?
Świątek endured a challenging second-round battle against Lamens, who pushed her hard in front of the Arthur Ashe crowd. Yet, displaying remarkable grit, the reigning Wimbledon champion won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the US Open third round.
Like other players, Świątek attended the post-match press conference, which at first seemed routine but soon took an awkward turn when a few questions didn’t sit well with her. One such moment came when she was asked a second question in her native language.
In a clip widely circulated on social media, a journalist asked the World No. 2 whether she had ever thought about wearing beads in her hair. “What kind of question is this? I’m sorry. Did you think about putting beads in your hair? No. What’s going on here?” She responded in frustration.
Tell me it’s not real…
The question is whether Iga wanted to weave beads into her hair pic.twitter.com/CBDV5EFw3m
— S.|198km/h⚡️| 🍓🏆🥳 (@Sarilec) August 28, 2025
Świątek’s expressions and tone made her displeasure clear, unlike her composed nature. The Polish reporter Tomek Moczerniuk, who represented Przegląd Sportowy, later explained the incident on social media. The reporter wrote that he had asked whether Świątek might consider adding a flashy element, such as beads in her hair, to provide New Yorkers with extra spectacle.
“The conversation with Iga got a little out of hand. Unfortunately, I got a backlash because she didn’t like me asking if, since New Yorkers like a show, she’s ever considered a little shock value, for example, by weaving beads into hair,” the reporter explained on X.
Konfa z Igą wymknęła się lekko spod kontroli. Niestety dostałem rykoszetem, bo nie spodobało się Jej, że zapytałem czy – skoro nowojorczycy lubią show – nie myślała kiedyś o tym, aby lekko zaszokować np poprzez wplecienie we włosy koralików. pic.twitter.com/AOulxueksN
— Tomek Moczerniuk 🇵🇱🇺🇸⚽ #PrzeglądOnTour (@TomekMoczerniuk) August 28, 2025
Notably, the beaded hairstyle is closely associated with American tennis icon Venus Williams. As a young athlete, she debuted the look to celebrate her roots, heritage, and proud Black identity. She sported the style early in her career, and her sister Serena Williams later embraced it.
Did the Reporter Have Any Additional Remarks on the Świątek Episode at the US Open?
In another statement on X, the reporter explained that the press conference had become tense, and he had intended to lighten the mood with a casual question. He acknowledged the outcome, expressed regret, and promised to apologize to Świątek at the next opportunity.
“You need to understand the full context. The end of the press conference was tense, and I wanted to lighten the mood a bit and ask a casual question. But it turned out the way it did, and I can’t turn back time. I’ll apologize to Iga at the next opportunity. Best regards,” they explained.
Trzeba poznać cały kontekst. Końcówka konferencji była nerwowa, a ja chciałem lekko rozładować atmosferę i zadać obyczajowe, luźne pytanie. Ale wyszło jak wyszło, czasu nie cofnę. Igę przeproszę przy najbliższej okazji. Pozdrawiam.
— Tomek Moczerniuk 🇵🇱🇺🇸⚽ #PrzeglądOnTour (@TomekMoczerniuk) August 28, 2025
Świątek’s frustration with the questions shows that even the most composed players can get rattled when faced with something unexpected or off guard. Nonetheless, she would fully shift her focus to the remainder of her US Open campaign, where she is set to face 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya in the third round.
