Former World No. 1 Iga Swatek published a long explanation of social media this week after the tennis test faced heavy criticism for almost striking a ball boy out of frustration during his semi -final loss at GNP Paribas Open Tennis Tournament In Indian Wells, California, last week.
During the third set of the match, a ball boy threw a ball in Swiatek’s direction, which she then immediately swung back towards him – just missing him.
Iga Swatek hits Mirra Andreva during the WTA semi -final at the GDP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Friday 14 March 2025. (IMagn)
The ball hit the ground and deflected into the crowd behind the ball the boy, giving a tough reaction from fans in the stands. This criticism continued On social media in the days that followed the Friday match.
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On Monday, Swatek responded with a long -standing post and explained the situation and also called the double standard fans.
“I can see that there has been a lot of recent talk about changes in my behavior on the field and feelings. Although I am not comfortable explaining myself, it is time to share my perspective to stop speculation and baseless theories,” her post began.
“First of all about the incident during my last fight. It’s true – I expressed frustration in a way I’m not proud of. My intention was never to target the ball against anyone other than just releasing my frustration by jumping it on the ground. I immediately apologized for the ball boy, we created eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him.”
Swatek said she has seen many players “bounce balls in frustration” and was surprised by the criticism she received for it.
Iga Swatek responds to a point of Mirra Andreerva under the WTA semi -final at the GDP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Friday 14 March 2025. (IMagn)
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“I did not expect such hard judgments. Usually I control such impulses, so half joke I can say that I lack experience in this and wrongly evaluated my goal at the moment.”
Swatek also complained “Constant judgment” She said she’s exposed to.
“Når jeg er meget fokuseret og ikke viser mange følelser på banen, kaldes jeg en robot, min holdning mærket som umenneskelig. Nu hvor jeg er mere udtryksfuld, viser følelser eller kæmper internt, følte jeg pludselig umoden eller hysterisk. Det er ikke en sund standard-især i betragtning af at for kun seks måneder siden, jeg følte, at min karriere blev hængt af en tråd, brugt tre uger med at græde dagligt, og ikke ønsket at skridt på Court. “
Iga Swatek appeals to the President’s judge during her semi -final match against Mirra Andreeva at the GDP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Friday, March 14, 2025. (IMagn)
Swatek referred to her recent doping scandal when she tested positively in August for the forbidden drug trimetazidine or TMZ. The results of this test were published in November, and International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted her explanation that the result was unintentional and caused by the pollution of non-prescription medicine melatonin, which she took for problems with jet lag and slept.
“Today, after all I’ve been through, I’m still treating and expressing these experiences. Will share this change something? Not because I clearly see how much we love to judge, create theories and introduce opinions about others. But maybe a few people who really want to understand what I experience will understand this.
