Iga Świątek’s 2026 season has yielded mixed results so far. Her subsequent coaching shake-up and emotional outbursts on court have attracted significant scrutiny. The Polish player admitted in her recent interview that the online toxicity and judgment from people claiming to know her have affected her.
Iga Świątek Expresses Worry About Increasing Public Opinion
Świątek has yet to win a title this year. She did contribute to her national team’s win at the United Cup in January, but that hasn’t helped ease incessant public criticism. Her recent defeats have, in fact, fueled a new wave of scrutiny. “I’ve been in the tennis world, and therefore in the public eye, for a long time. Despite this, I’m increasingly terrified by what people post online. I have the impression it’s heading in a very bad direction,” she told Sport.pl.
During a recent interview, Świątek’s childhood coach, Artur Szostaczko, minced no words in his disapproval of her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz. Abramowicz been accused of intense involvement in the tennis player’s life by fans and experts. Szostaczko also described his time with Świątek and her father during her childhood. The six-time Grand Slam champion apparently did not appreciate these comments.
“It surprises me that people who only saw me when I was 10 or 12 are suddenly being asked what I’m ‘really’ like and what I should be doing with my life or on the court. It’s a bit like asking a teacher who knew a child for a year what they’re like as an adult — it’s absurd.”
Świątek, who’s spent 125 weeks as the World No. 1, has dropped to No. 4 in the rankings. After losses to Belinda Bencic, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, Elina Svitolina, and Magda Linette, she admitted to feeling stressed and making bad decisions on court. The Pole, however, wishes for space and privacy to figure out her struggles, which has been a challenge.
“The internet doesn’t work logically. It doesn’t allow for mistakes or time to understand something. It simply judges — and does so very harshly,” she said during her recent interview.
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“After all, only my closest friends know my doubts, what I want to improve, and what I want to focus on in the future. Sometimes, like now, I have the opportunity to talk a little about it, but most of the time I have to focus on myself, not explain what tennis is all about. I want to be focused on myself. I think we deserve some space and basic respect — both me and the team that got me to this point and helped me achieve so many great results,” she added.
In light of these challenges, Iga Świątek has decided not to compete for Poland in the upcoming BJK Cup tie against Ukraine (April 10-11). After her split with coach Wim Fissette, the 24-year-old is searching for a replacement as she prepares for the clay-court season, beginning with the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (April 13-19).
