Journalist Apologizes After Asking Iga Swiatek Bizarre ‘Beads in Hair’ Question at US Open

Iga Swiatek will be squaring off against Anna Kalinskaya in the third round of the US Open.

Journalist Apologizes After Asking Iga Swiatek Bizarre ‘Beads in Hair’ Question at US Open

Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Jimmy48 Photography)

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Iga Swiatek sat staring at journalists after being asked whether she could consider weave beads in her hair after surviving a scare in the second round of the US Open. Swiatek defeated Suzan Lamens in three sets on Thursday (August 28).

At the press conference, Polish journalist Tomek Moczerniuk asked Swiatek if she would want to have beads in her hair. The World No.2 snapped back at the journalist, who walked out of the press room- that’s what reports claim.

While defending himself, Moczerniuk revealed he didn’t walk out of the room; that on the other side of the press room, an American journalist was arguing with the moderator, and so he just moved to the front to hear the answers well. He wrote on X:

The conversation with Iga got a bit out of hand. Unfortunately, I got caught in the crossfire because she didn’t like that I asked if—since New Yorkers like a show—she had ever thought about lightly shocking them, for example, by weaving beads into her hair.

Moczerniuk also admitted that his question seemed like it had racial connotations after everything that happened during the Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend second-round match. The Latvian ace was accused of racism after telling Townsend she has “no class, no education”.

You need to understand the whole context. The end of the conference was tense, and I wanted to lighten the mood a bit and ask a casual, relaxed question. But it turned out as it did, and I can’t turn back time. I’ll apologize to Iga at the earliest opportunity. Best regards.

Tomek Moczerniuk added

In one of the tweets, he was asked if he would have asked a similar question to a man as well. Moczerniuk wrote he would have asked Jannik Sinner whether he would consider having a new hairstyle because Carlos Alcaraz is sporting a buzzcut.

Iga Swiatek will face Anna Kalinskaya next

Both Iga Swiatek and her third-round opponent, Anna Kalinskaya, struggled a lot earlier this season. For Kalinskaya, it was even worse because she was finding it difficult to win matches.

Anna Kalinskaya, Iga Swiatek
Anna Kalinskaya, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, iga archive)

Everything changed at the Citi Open, where she reached the final only to lose to Leylah Fernandez. The six-time Grand Slam champion will be locking horns with the Russian ace for the third time in her career.

Kalinskaya was the reason why Swiatek couldn’t reach the final of the 2024 Dubai Open. Swiatek tied the head-to-head record by knocking her out of the quarterfinals of this year’s Cincinnati Masters.

It will surely be a tough match; she loves fast surfaces. I haven’t seen her play this week yet, obviously, I know she’s been going through a lot, so I’ll have to prepare tactically very well, as I always do before each match. I have to be ready because she’s a big hitter, she likes to be proactive and aggressive from the first ball, dictate with her shots.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

Kalinskaya has not yet won a WTA title. At the US Open, she reached the third round for the second time in her career after the 2024 season. She performed her best in the Majors at the 2024 Australian Open by reaching the quarterfinals. Before scheduling the clash with the second seed, Kalinskaya defeated Yulia Putintseva.

Swiatek has so far clinched two titles this season. She ended her trophy drought at Wimbledon by beating Amanda Anisimova (her first title since the 2024 Roland Garros), following which she defeated Jasmine Paolini in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Swiatek is also chasing her second title at the US Open. It was at Flushing Meadows in 2022 that Swiatek won her third Grand Slam title by beating Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Last year in New York, she lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Thanks Carlos Alcaraz for Finishing His US Open Match Quickly After Avoiding Late Start