Iga Swiatek’s Psychologist Daria Abramowicz Breaks Silence After Intense Criticism About Their Relationship: “It is Different”

Iga Swiatek will be bidding to win her third title at Indian Wells, where she last won in 2024.

Iga Swiatek’s Psychologist Daria Abramowicz Breaks Silence After Intense Criticism About Their Relationship: “It is Different”

Iga Swiatek, Daria Abramowicz (Image via Politkya X/Swiatekiramisu)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek will compete at Indian Wells, aiming for her third title in the tournament.
  • Criticism of Swiatek's psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, has intensified following her recent performance.
  • Abramowicz defends their professional relationship, emphasizing the importance of trust and team dynamics in sports.

Iga Swiatek will be seen in action at Indian Wells, the main draw of which kicks off on March 4. She will be chasing her third title in the tournament, following her victories in 2022 and 2024 against Maria Sakkari both times.

The Pole was last seen in action at the Qatar Open, where her run ended in the quarterfinals with a three-set defeat to the Greek ace. Because of another defeat without making the final, many from the tennis world once again started to criticize her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, urging the World No.2 to finally fire her.

But whenever Swiatek struggles while competing, the blame is put on Abramowicz. In March last year, Darius Nowicki, a renowned Polish psychologist, raised concerns about Swiatek’s relationship with Abramowicz, accusing them of crossing professional boundaries.

Abramowicz, however, defended her methods, saying the reason she frequently travels with Swiatek is because of the 11-month tennis calendar. She said on the Krychowiak’s Style podcast:

That’s the nature of sport. If the team dynamics are such that a tennis player travels with their specialists for 11 months, the player wants it, doesn’t feel comfortable working remotely, or is sporadic, or cannot afford to go home every now and then, then this form of work is different. Is it bad? No, it is different.

Abramowicz has been working with Swiatek since 2019, when the latter was a teenager. Although Swiatek from time to time made changes to her team, Abramowicz continued to be a part of her team. While working with the psychologist, Swiatek became World No.1, clinched six Grand Slam titles, and won one WTA Finals.

Even in college, we hear from the first year that building an effective relationship is crucial. But not a relationship where we’re enjoying each other’s company and being besties, but a professional relationship — a foundation that allows the athlete to trust a specialist. It’s exactly like working with coaches.

Daria Abramowicz added

The only tournament that Swiatek has won so far this season is the United Cup with Poland. After finishing as runners-up in 2024 and 2025, Poland defeated Switzerland to win their maiden United Cup title.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov on Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawals from the Dubai Tennis Championships

While Iga Swiatek will be chasing her third title at Indian Wells, Aryna Sabalenka has yet to clinch a singles title in the first Sunshine Doubles event. Last year, Mirra Andreeva defeated her in the final.

Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (3)
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/News Aryna Sabalenka, Jimmie48 Photography)

Prior to arriving in Indian Wells, Sabalenka skipped both the WTA 1000 events of the Middle East Swing, as she did not have many points to defend. Her as well as Swiatek’s withdrawals from the Dubai Tennis Championships led to the tournament director, Salah Tahlak, urging the WTA to deduct ranking points from players. Former ATP player Yevgeny Kafelnikov explains why he thinks Tahlak reacted in that manner.

And when, in a place like Dubai, they hold tournaments with huge amounts of prize money, to see these kinds of withdrawals as a promoter, well, it’s suicide. Because he puts up billboards of them for three to four months, hoping to attract other sponsors. Everyone wants to see the best players, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, so when such a real collapse of names happens, how else can you react?

Yevgeny Kafelnikov said on the latest episode of the Hard Court podcast

Swiatek, after the United Cup win, lost to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Sabalenka, after defending her Brisbane International crown by beating Marta Kostyuk, failed to win her third Australian Open title, losing to Rybakina in the final. She has one Sunshine Doubles singles title to her name- the 2025 Miami Open, which she won by defeating Jessica Pegula.

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