Childhood Coach Calls Out Iga Swiatek’s Dad, Claims WTA Ace Could Fall Apart Because of Psychologist Daria Abramowicz

Iga Swiatek failed to reach the semifinals of every singles tournament she has played so far this year.

Childhood Coach Calls Out Iga Swiatek’s Dad, Claims WTA Ace Could Fall Apart Because of Psychologist Daria Abramowicz

Daria Abramowicz, Iga Swiatek and Tomasz Swiatek (Image via Sport-Fakt.pl, Onet, X/iga archive)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette amid a disappointing start to the season.
  • Her childhood coach criticized psychologist Daria Abramowicz, suggesting she may be contributing to Swiatek's struggles.
  • Swiatek is expected to return to action at the Stuttgart Open, with speculation about her next coach, including Francisco Roig.

Iga Swiatek parted ways with coach Wim Fissette and has yet to announce her new coach. Swiatek hasn’t yet enjoyed any success in singles tournaments this season and, in fact, has yet to progress to a semifinal in singles events.

After lifting the United Cup with Poland, the former World No.1 suffered defeats in the quarterfinals of three consecutive tournaments. Eventual champion Elena Rybakina knocked her out at the Australian Open, after which Maria Sakkari beat her at the Qatar Open. At the Indian Wells, Elina Svitolina ended her campaign. But the biggest shock came in Miami, where countrywoman Magda Linette upset her in the opening round.

A few days after her exit, Swiatek announced that she is no longer working with Fissette, who guided her to the 2025 Wimbledon title. Amid chaos in her team, Swiatek’s childhood coach, Artur Szostaczko, criticized Swiatek’s psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, blaming her for the World No.4’s slump in form.

I’m a certified coach myself, having played tennis my entire life. I know and have contact with many coaches and tennis people. No one there has worked with a psychologist to the extent that Iga has. Of course, a psychologist can help, but you have to be moderate. I remember [Daniil] Medvedev once invited his psychologist to a match with [Novak] Djokovic. He clearly needed it, but that was a one-time thing.

Artur Szostaczko told Interia Sport

Abramowicz joined the six-time Grand Slam champion’s team back in 2019 when Swiatek was just a teenager. Although Swiatek kept changing her coaching team from time to time, Abramowicz remains a constant presence in her team and travels with the player to almost every tournament, along with her coaches.

The way I see it, in a psychologist-athlete relationship, there’s usually some kind of entanglement and addiction. And the psychologist has the advantage in this situation. It’s possible that this is the case with Iga, that it’s a pattern. Perhaps she doesn’t know any different. 

Artur Szostaczko added

Szostaczko also thinks Swiatek’s dad, Tomasz Swiatek, could be contributing to the problem. He thinks it was Tomasz’s dream to see Swiatek win the 2024 Paris Olympics, and because she failed to win the gold medal, her “mental side fell apart“.

Polish journalist Adam Romer wants Iga Swiatek to hire Francisco Roig

The clay swing is around the corner, and Iga Swiatek will be back in action for the Stuttgart Open, the WTA 500 event, the main draw of which is scheduled to start on April 13. Swiatek is considered the best clay-court player on the tour right now, given that she has added four Roland Garros titles to her trophy cabinet.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/iga archive)

But right now, the tennis world is wondering whom Swiatek will add to her entourage next. Polish journalist Adam Romer, during his interview with WP SportoweFakty, said he considers Francisco Roig one of the candidates.

You can’t deny Roig’s authority; he’s been in this business for a long time. And he certainly knows what he’s getting into, that Daria Abramowicz is number one in the hierarchy. Not every coach would accept that. However, it’s also a great opportunity to work with an outstanding tennis player like Swiatek, so they include such a situation in the costs.

Swiatek has yet to win a clay-court title since completing a three-peat at the 2024 Roland Garros. Last year in the clay-court Major, the 24-year-old lost to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

Swiatek, in fact, failed to reach a final on the clay swing last year. She ended her trophy drought by double-bageling Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final.

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