Iga Swiatek Strongly Defends Psychologist Daria Abramowicz Amid Accusations of Crossing Professional Boundary: “I Decide Who I Work With”

Iga Swiatek will be seen in action at the Stuttgart Open, where she emerged victorious in 2022 and 2023.

Iga Swiatek Strongly Defends Psychologist Daria Abramowicz Amid Accusations of Crossing Professional Boundary: “I Decide Who I Work With”

Iga Swiatek, Daria Abramowicz (Image via X/iga archive, Onet)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek defended her psychologist Daria Abramowicz against accusations of crossing professional boundaries.
  • Swiatek emphasized her decision-making in choosing her team and dismissed negative media narratives as fake news.
  • The tennis player aims to regain her solid performance on the court ahead of the upcoming clay season.

Because Iga Swiatek underperformed by her own standards this season, the blame once again was put on her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz. Swiatek, as earlier in the 2025 season, had a slow start in 2026.

She has yet to progress to a semifinal. After a successful United Cup campaign with Poland, Swiatek made the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and the Indian Wells. Maria Sakkari downed her in Doha, while Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina knocked her out in Melbourne and Indian Wells, respectively.

And it was after her shock opening-round exit at the Miami Open that Swiatek decided to end her partnership with Belgian coach Wim Fissette. Coaches have come and gone, but Abramowicz remains a constant presence on her team.

Swiatek, during her interview with Sport.pl, strongly defended her psychologist and questioned the critics why they are blaming Abramowicz, under whom she has achieved a lot. She also addressed the accusations of Abramowicz crossing the professional boundaries.

I decide who I work with. And honestly, most of the negative things I saw somewhere—I try not to read into it, but something’s getting through to me—were just fake news and theories made up to cause confusion.

Swiatek was ranked outside of the top 150 when she added Abramowicz to her team back in 2019. While working with the 38-year-old, Swiatek reached the top of the rankings table, won the 2023 WTA Finals, and took home six Grand Slam titles.

Regarding the articles about Daria, for years she was credited with my success on the court, as it was possible thanks to, among other things, mental strength, and now, with the decline in form and results, suddenly she is to blame.

Iga Swiatek added

The clay swing on the WTA Tour is underway. Swiatek, the winner of 10 titles on the surface, will start her campaign at the Stuttgart Open.

Iga Swiatek wants to go back to being solid on the court

Iga Swiatek burst onto the scene after defeating Sofia Kenin in the 2020 Roland Garros, also winning her career’s first singles title on the tour. The tennis world was fully convinced she was not a one-Slam wonder when, in 2022, she reached nine finals, winning eight titles, including the French Open and the US Open.

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

She enjoyed a purple patch in the next couple of seasons but struggled badly at the start of the last year. The 24-year-old did not reach a final last year before the Bad Homburg Open.

Although clay is Swiatek’s favorite surface, she played just two semifinals on the surface last year. Swiatek, during that aforementioned interview with Sports.pl, shared what she is looking for in her game.

I want to get back to solid foundations and feel like I’m a rock on the court again—I don’t make mistakes, and I force my opponents to make them. I’ve always had that. That was my advantage—I put pressure on the court, and that gave me an advantage. I feel like I enjoy tennis most when I’m solid. When I’m not, I take unnecessary risks and make many more mistakes. I want to get back to solidity. But that requires work on the court.

Last year on the clay swing, after losing to eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart Open quarterfinals, Swiatek made the semifinals of the Madrid Open, suffered a third-round exit at the Italian Open, and at the French Open, eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka eliminated her in the semifinals. The last time Swiatek won a clay-court title was at the 2024 Roland Garros by beating Jasmine Paolini.

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