Concerns Raised Over Iga Swiatek’s Relationship with Psychologist Daria Abramowicz
Iga Swiatek has been warned that her partnership with psychologist Daria Abramowicz may have crossed professional boundaries, raising concerns about their working relationship.
The world No. 2 has worked with Abramowicz since February 2019, when she was just 17. Since then, Swiatek has established herself as one of the dominant players of her generation, securing five Grand Slam singles titles and spending 125 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player.
Their collaboration has often been credited as a key factor in Swiatek’s success. However, recent scrutiny has put their relationship under the spotlight.
During her Indian Wells semi-final loss to Mirra Andreeva, Swiatek faced criticism for hitting a ball in frustration near her team, close to a ball boy. She later addressed the incident in a detailed social media post, but Abramowicz also drew attention for her vocal presence in the stands during the match.
Now, leading Polish sports psychologist Dariusz Nowicki has suggested that the professional distance between Swiatek and Abramowicz has been compromised.
In an interview with Interia Sport, Nowicki described their relationship as “disturbed” from a psychological perspective.
“If we look at this solely through the lens of professional psychological practice, boundaries have been crossed,” he stated. “The professional distance between a psychologist and their client must be maintained.”
Nowicki warned that Abramowicz’s close involvement could lead to errors in judgment, particularly in high-pressure situations.
“Errors in perception are most likely to occur when emotions are heightened—whether positive or negative,” he explained. “Maintaining psychological distance is crucial, not only in relation to the athlete but also within the training team. Someone in this group must uphold a level of rationality and emotional self-control, and that responsibility should fall on the psychologist.”
He further emphasized that while coaches often display strong emotions during matches, a sports psychologist should remain objective to be effective in their role.
Swiatek has yet to respond to Nowicki’s remarks, as she prepares to begin her Miami Open campaign on Friday. In a repeat of her Indian Wells second-round matchup, she will face Caroline Garcia, with all seeded players receiving a first-round bye.
The Polish star will be aiming to capture her second Miami Open title, having previously won the tournament in 2022.
