Iga Swiatek has spoken out about online hate and unrealistic expectations as she prepares to defend her Wimbledon title. The Polish player shared her views in an interview with WP SportoweFakty.
Swiatek, the 2025 Wimbledon champion, expressed surprise at the radical opinions from what she called pseudo-experts. She noted that such views often appear in article headlines and are difficult to accept.
The 25-year-old also highlighted the pressure on successful athletes. "If a person succeeds and wins, suddenly defeat is unacceptable," she said. "It’s not entirely human. Everyone makes mistakes, especially in sports."
Swiatek pointed to the challenges of social media. She explained that players face constant questions about their performances and must deal with unpleasant headlines and non-constructive fan opinions.
She previously addressed online abuse after a loss at the China Open last year. Her father, Tomasz Swiatek, has also spoken out in her defense during past periods of criticism.