Iga Swiatek Responds to Criticism Over On-Court Outburst and Opens Up About Emotional Struggles
Iga Swiatek has addressed critics who labeled her “immature” and “hysterical” following an on-court outburst last week, where she struck a ball in frustration, unintentionally directing it toward a ball boy.
The five-time Grand Slam champion expressed remorse for the incident, acknowledging the emotional toll she has endured over the past six months—including a one-month doping ban. In a candid social media post on Tuesday, Swiatek revealed that at times, she felt her “career was hanging by a thread” and spent “three weeks crying daily.”
“It’s true—I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of,” Swiatek admitted. “My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but simply to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground. I immediately apologized to the ball boy, we made eye contact, and I expressed regret that it happened near him. I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and honestly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgments. Usually, I control these impulses, so, half-jokingly, I can say I lack experience in this and misjudged my aim in the heat of the moment.”
The world No. 2 also called out the double standards in how players’ emotions are perceived, highlighting the unrealistic expectations placed on athletes.
“When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot, my attitude labeled as inhuman. But when I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labeled immature or hysterical,” Swiatek pointed out.
“That’s not a healthy standard—especially considering that just six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread, spent three weeks crying daily, and didn’t even want to step on the court. Today, after everything I’ve been through, I’m still processing and coming to terms with those experiences.”
While she acknowledged that opening up about her struggles might not change public perception, she hoped it would offer insight to those willing to understand.
“Will sharing this change anything? Probably not, because I clearly see how much people love judging, creating theories, and imposing opinions on others. But maybe a few people who genuinely want to understand what I’m experiencing will take something from this.”
Swiatek made her return to the tour at the United Cup in Sydney in January, following her suspension. At the time, she described the ban as “fair” and was surprised that the backlash had not been harsher. She then matched her best Australian Open performance with a semi-final run before falling to eventual champion Madison Keys.
However, the full impact of her ban hit her during the Dubai tournament last month.
“It struck me hard that my positive test, missing two major tournaments in October, and last year’s exceptional results—winning four WTA 1000 titles and a Grand Slam in the first half of the season—will keep affecting my ranking and essentially take away my chance at No. 1,” Swiatek admitted. “This realization deeply upset me.”
