Marta Kostyuk’s Coach Slams Iga Swiatek’s Critics, Compares Her with Novak Djokovic: “They’re Humans, Not Machines”

Iga Swiatek is bidding to win her first title of the season at the Stuttgart Open, where she won titles in 2022 and 2023.

Marta Kostyuk’s Coach Slams Iga Swiatek’s Critics, Compares Her with Novak Djokovic: “They’re Humans, Not Machines”

Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/Univers Tenis, Quindici Zero)

In Short
  • Iga Swiatek has faced criticism following a decline in form.
  • Marta Kostyuk's coach, Sandra Zaniewska, defended Swiatek, emphasizing that players are human and should not be viewed as machines.
  • Swiatek is currently competing at the Stuttgart Open, having trained with new coach Francisco Roig to improve her game.

Iga Swiatek experienced a decline in form at the start of the 2025 season. And even though she did reach four finals and claimed three titles, including her career’s first grass-court title at Wimbledon, she found herself struggling at the start of this year as well.

At present, she is competing at the Stuttgart Open. Before starting her campaign on the clay swing, Swiatek played four singles tournaments and suffered defeats before reaching the semifinals.

It was after her shock opening-round exit at the Miami Open (lost to Magda Linette) that Swiatek decided to part ways with Belgian coach Wim Fissette. She trained at Rafael Nadal‘s academy and hired his former coach, Francisco Roig.

Because of her performances at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, Indian Wells Masters, and the Miami Open, Swiatek found herself on the receiving end of criticism. And now, after her training session at Nadal’s academy, Swiatek will be hoping to regain her form.

Amid all these, Marta Kostyuk‘s coach, Sandra Zaniewska, came out in support of the seven-time Grand Slam champion.

Because the internet is so open, certain things get to the players, and these players are only human. It’s great that people sit on their couches and watch matches on TV, and it’s great if they’re cheering, but there should be a bit more positivity by viewing players as people, not as machines.

Sandra Zaniewska told Interia

Zaniewska compared Swiatek with Serbian great Novak Djokovic. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has reached the twilight of his career and has yet to win a title this year, though he played the final of the Australian Open after eliminating Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Carlos Alcaraz downed him in the championship clash.

We see this not only with Iga, but also with Novak Djokovic before him. Everyone is human, so some kind of decline comes sooner or later. That’s normal too; it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. It just means you have to find new ways to get back up there.

Sandra Zaniewska added

In the Stuttgart Open opening round, Swiatek registered a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Laura Siegemund. She will next be locking horns with Alycia Parks or Mirra Andreeva.

Iga Swiatek on her work with Francisco Roig

Iga Swiatek trained with her new coach, Francisco Roig, for 10 days before arriving in Stuttgart. But she cannot tell at the moment whether the things she worked on is already working because she needs to play matches to assess this. Following her opening-round win, Swiatek talked about the changes she has made to her game while working with Roig.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/United Cup)

I feel I have a lot of clarity on what to do on a clay court and completely agree with what Francisco wants to show me. However, if everyone could execute their ideas 100% in any match, they would win everything, so I need space to win matches and see how it works. I’ve changed my serving mechanics, something that makes me very happy. I need matches to find consistency.

Iga Swiatek said at the press conference

Swiatek clinched the Stuttgart title in 2022 and 2023 by defeating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. She couldn’t complete the three-peat in 2024 as eventual champion Elena Rybakina knocked her out in the semifinals. Last year, eventual champion Jelena Ostapenko beat her in the quarterfinals.

The last singles title that the 24-year-old lifted was the 2025 Cincinnati Open by beating Jasmine Paolini. The last time Swiatek won a clay-court title was at the 2024 Roland Garros by beating the Italian.

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