Iga Swiatek slams fans for calling her ‘robot’ as she breaks silence on viral ball kid incident at Indian Wells
Iga Swiatek had smashed the ball on the ground in front of a ball kid during a tense Indian Wells semifinal against Mirra Andreeva.
Follow Us
Iga Swiatek lost her cool during Indian Wells semifinal (Image via WTA/X)
World No.2 Iga Swiatek took to social media and shared a lengthy post, where she disclosed the emotional turbulence she has been experiencing in recent months. This came after her behavior toward a ball kid in the recently concluded Indian Wells.
Swiatek suffered from a meltdown during a tense semifinal against eventual winner Mirra Andreeva. Out of frustration in the decider, Swiatek smashed the ball violently on the ground in front of a ball kid and it bounced back into the stands.
First, about the incident during my last match. It’s true I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of. My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground. I immediately apologised to the ball boy, we made eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him.
Iga Swiatek wrote on Instagram
Swiatek then opened up about the last year, which was “extremely challenging” for her. She was producing dominating performances from the start of the season but tested positive for trimetazidine in August.
She avoided a lengthy ban as the anti-doping agency handed only a one-month ban to her. Because of the provisional suspension, she missed the Asian swing, and she didn’t play her best tennis toward the end of the season.
It affected her rankings as Aryna Sabalenka got crowned as the World No.1. The Pole ace also censured fans’ double standard for their varying opinions on players’ on-court demeanor.
When I’m highly focused and don’t show many emotions on court, I’m called a robot, my attitude is labeled as inhuman. Now that I’m more expressive, showing feelings or struggling internally, I’m suddenly labeled immature or hysterical. That’s not a healthy standard-especially considering that just six months ago, I felt my career was hanging by a thread, spent three weeks crying daily, and didn’t want to step on the court.
Iga Swiatek added
Check out Swiatek’s post here:
Iga Swiatek failed to defend Indian Wells title
Iga Swiatek played a high level of tennis at Indian Wells. She is a two-time champion in the California desert, having won the title in 2022 and 2024. And the way she was performing, many from the tennis world were convinced that Swiatek would finally end her trophy drought.
The five-time Grand Slam champion handed bagels and breadsticks to her opponents until she met 2024 Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinal. The 23-year-old was successful in avenging her 2024 Olympic semifinal defeat.
But Swiatek was tested by teenager Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals, and she failed. The 17-year-old clinched a tough first set, but Swiatek didn’t allow her to win more than one game in the following set.
In the third set, Andreeva didn’t let her capitalize on her lead, and with scores of 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-3, the Russian secured a berth in the Indian Wells final. Andreeva then came from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka to win back-to-back WTA 1000 titles, following her Dubai Open victory.
Iga Swiatek to play at Miami Open next
Swiatek has made it clear through that aforementioned Instagram post that she is yet to move on from the doping drama. And this perhaps has been affecting her during matches.
Swiatek once again will try to forget the doping saga for the second leg of the Sunshine Doubles, the Miami Open. She had clinched the Sunshine Doubles back in 2022 but withdrew from the event in 2023 and was defeated by Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round last year.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)