Iga Swiatek makes feelings clear on expulsion of Novak Djokovic fan who verbally attacked her
Iga Swiatek was harassed by a fan during a practice session in Miami due to which, she was given additional security.
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Out of Context Iga Swiatek)
Iga Swiatek is scheduled to start her Madrid Open campaign against Alexandra Eala, the teenager from Philippines, who was the reason behind her elimination in this year’s Miami Open. During a training session in Miami, a spectator harassed her, following which, she was given extra security.
The man reportedly was a Novak Djokovic fan from Poland. He verbally attacked her by asking questions about her mother and also hurled abuses at Swiatek’s psychologist Daria Abramowicz. Swiatek, ahead of her Madrid Open first match, Swiatek said she feels safe while she’s on the tour because the WTA is very quick to react in these types of situations.
There are many crazy things that can happen, you never know what. I don’t know what the procedure is regarding checking who can enter the venue or not, it’s not something I’m familiar with, but based on the WTA’s reaction and what they always say about protecting us, I hope everything remains the same.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
The incident happened after Emma Raducanu dealt with a stalker who displayed “fixated behavior” toward the Brit during the Dubai Open and also watched her play her second-round clash with Karolina Muchova. During the match, Raducanu broke down in tears and also was seen crying when she met her family at London airport. The stalker was given a restraining order by the Dubai police.
Iga Swiatek makes her feelings known about last year’s Madrid Open final against Aryna Sabalenka
Iga Swiatek lifted her career’s first Madrid Open title last year after saving three match points to deny Aryna Sabalenka her second consecutive victory in the Spanish capital. Both the top players could again meet each other in the final. Swiatek, ahead of her second-round match, recalled that thrilling clash with the Belarusian.
There aren’t many matches at that level, sometimes the finals are worse than the quarters or semis because players are a bit tired, but Aryna and I put on a great show and I love it. It was a fantastic match for the fans.
Iga Swiatek said at the press conference
Swiatek holds an 8-4 head-to-head lead over the World No.1 but lost their last encounter in the semifinal of the 2024 Cincinnati Open. The 26-year-old, in her first match, will be squaring off against Anna Blinkova, against whom, she is 3-0 in the head-to-head record.
Before the first WTA 1000 tournament on clay, Swiatek lost to eventual winner Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart Open quarterfinals. In Stuttgart, Sabalenka progressed to her fifth final of the season.
In those finals, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion emerged as a champion twice: in Brisbane and in Miami. Swiatek, however, is yet to win her first title since winning her fourth French Open trophy last year.
Iga Swiatek is yet to reach a final this season
Iga Swiatek, the winner of 22 singles titles, is 22/7 on the season. Since winning last year’s French Open, Swiatek also has failed to advance to a singles final.
The doping case was the reason as after testing positive for trimetazidine, the former World No.1 missed three tournaments as a result of which, she lost her No.1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka as the latter was also producing dominating performances in the hard-court tournaments. The doping scandal also affected her performance and Swiatek admitted the same following the ball-kid controversy at Indian Wells.
Last year on the clay swing, the five-time Grand Slam lifted three of her titles on the red dirt: the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, and the French Open. The other two titles she lifted at the Qatar Open and at Indian Wells.
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