The spotlight was meant to be on Iga Swiatek’s dramatic comeback win over Alexandra Eala at the 2025 Madrid Open. But following the match, a more controversial story took center stage.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg raised eyebrows after uncovering that the WTA may have used artificial intelligence to alter promotional images of the two players—producing results that drew criticism from fans and media alike.
Swiatek, a former World No. 1, rallied from a set and a break down to defeat the talented Filipino rising star Eala in three sets. The match was billed as the day’s marquee WTA clash, given their history—including Eala’s win over Swiatek at the Miami Open earlier this year.
However, Rothenberg, writing for his publication Bounces, pointed out several discrepancies in WTA’s published images. In one AI-generated photo, Swiatek’s hat lacked the logo of her actual apparel sponsor—a likely attempt to avoid branding, though poorly executed. The same image showed her racket hand awkwardly placed on the strings, which was not the case in the original.
More oddities included an unnatural yellow tint to Swiatek’s teeth—an aesthetic misstep that didn’t go unnoticed—and altered details on Eala’s outfit. The Nike swoosh appeared distorted, her sponsor logos were removed, and the skin tone on her fingers looked inconsistent.
Following the backlash, the WTA quietly replaced the edited image of Swiatek, seemingly acknowledging the criticism. The situation has sparked a wider conversation about the responsible use of AI in sports media and the integrity of official promotional content.
While the photos may have been intended to enhance the visuals, the execution has raised concerns about misrepresentation, especially when involving two high-profile athletes.
The match itself? A hard-fought win for Swiatek, and a lesson for the WTA in the careful balance between innovation and authenticity.
