“She is sensitive”: Andy Roddick concerned about Iga Swiatek handling doping scrutiny from media in Australia

Former tennis star Andy Roddick has expressed concern about how Iga Swiatek will handle media scrutiny regarding her recent doping suspension as she prepares for the Australian Open. Swiatek tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in August 2024, which was attributed to contamination in her sleep medication. She served a one-month suspension from September 12 to October 4, 2024.

Roddick noted that Swiatek’s emotional nature might make it challenging for her to face repetitive questioning from the press. He contrasted her demeanor with that of Jannik Sinner, who also faced doping allegations but maintained a more composed public presence. Roddick stated, “She is sensitive, you can see her emote more than Jannik Sinner, who keeps things calm and tight.”

Swiatek is set to return to competitive tennis at the United Cup, representing Poland, before competing in the Australian Open. The upcoming tournaments will test her ability to manage both on-court performance and off-court media interactions following the doping controversy.