Women’s tennis has seen the rise of several young, talented players who have revolutionized the game in recent years. Iga Swiatek stands out among them as a prominent name. With her spectacular play and, mature and composed attitude towards tennis, the young Polish wonder has enthralled the entire world.
While the 22-year-old has always been in the spotlight for her sensational gameplay, she has recently received a lot of attention because of her stance on the Russo-Ukraine War.
Swiatek’s dad on negative comments after Svitolina match:
“Playing with a ribbon on a hat, her views are clear, she wants the war to end. Sadly, after the match with Elina, there were harmful comments. You can’t stand by a topic like war. Iga has the right to her opinion”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 25, 2023
The Polish has clarified her stance in several instances on the public level. World No. 1 received a lot of flak for wearing a Ukrainian ribbon on her cap. Tomasz Swiatek, her father, spoke up for her and said that she has a right to her viewpoint. Furthermore, he thinks that the four-time Grand Slam champion’s opinions on the conflict are rather obvious.
The Pole said the war has created ‘chaos’ in the sport. She went on to describe how the environment is tense between several players and in the locker room. She is spotted wearing a ribbon on her cap which shows and clarifies her support for Ukraine.
Swiatek comes from Poland, which is a neighboring country of Ukraine. Iga revealed that the reason she has been so vocal about her support for Ukraine is because she has witnessed “people suffering” as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Why does Iga Swiatek bring psychologists on tour with her?
Swiatek has always received praise for her mature personality and outlook along with her gameplay. Now a holder of 4 grand slam titles, Iga faced a rough start during her early years. The then-19-year-old had suffered defeats in the opening rounds of “Cincy,” the US Open’s third round, and Rome’s first round.
Swiatek however returned stronger after the pandemic as she spent time training with both, her coach Piotr Sierzputowski and sport psychologist Daria Abramowicz. She started playing with Legos during the pandemic because she finds the construction of things like the International Space Station, a Porsche, or the castle at Disney World to be calming.
Swiatek has worked with Abramowicz for two years. She is a 33-year-old former competitive sailor and coach. Speaking to a PA agent, Daria said, “It’s unique, it’s amazing. And I really, really do hope that she will set an example for other young athletes.”
When Iga was asked for the reason behind her traveling with a psychologist, she said, “I just, I don’t know, she just made me like smarter.” She went on to add, “I know more about sports and I know more about psychology and I can understand my own feelings and I can say them out loud.” (via Tennis.com).
The Pole claims that receiving guidance both before and after matches has helped her mentally advance. Swiatek’s life has been studied by Abramowicz in great detail, from general observations to information about specific games and opponents.
With the increase in players giving their mental health importance, tennis as a sport is evolving and getting better every day. The young 22-year-old is setting examples in every instance of her life, from having spectacular gameplay to showing how important your mental health is no matter the position you are in your life.