Swiatek Ends 11-Month Title Drought at Canadian Open, Then Turns on Her Critics
Iga Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets on a Thursday night to win the Canadian Open — her first tournament title in 11 months, and her first alongside a new coach The Guardian.
She should have been celebrating. Instead, she used the moment to say what had been building inside her.
Swiatek told supporters she wanted to dedicate the title to "everyone dealing with unfair judgment and hate" Sportsnet. Asked in her post-match press conference whether the hate she faced was connected to social media, she replied: "Well, if you would be Polish, you would know" Ubitennis.
Swiatek is a six-time Grand Slam champion and one of the most famous people in Poland. That fame carries a weight few tennis players carry. She rarely goes outdoors when at home, visiting only friends' apartments or inviting them to hers, to avoid being watched. Last year, she had to negotiate with paparazzi who photographed her apartment building. After the Miami tournament, photographers followed her almost to her door; she told them photos were off limits near her home The Guardian.
She said her anger after winning stemmed from the doubtful, disapproving voices she heard during her difficult periods — most of it from viewers and media in Poland The Guardian. Her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, whose role on Swiatek's team has itself been a point of public contention, is part of the setup that came under scrutiny during the drought.
The Canadian Open title came roughly a year after Swiatek's previous breakthrough on North American hard courts. Last August, she won the Cincinnati Open — her first at that event — by defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 49 minutes WTA. She did not drop a set all tournament, having reached the final with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Rybakina WTA. After that Cincinnati win, she set her sights on a seventh Grand Slam title at the US Open Reuters.
Now the drought is over again. A new coach. A new title. And a player making clear that the noise around her will not go unanswered.
