Renowned tennis sensation Iga Swiatek is under fire for her contentious conduct towards a ball kid during her recent match at Indian Wells. The incident occurred shortly after her surprising defeat by Mirra Andreeva on Friday. Swiatek, a five-time major champion, failed to secure her title, leading to a significant public backlash.
Swiatek had been demonstrating commendable performance in her preceding matches, entering the arena to face Andreeva in high spirits and exceptional form. However, in a match filled with tension and high stakes, the 17-year-old Andreeva showcased her mettle.
The heart of the controversy circles around Swiatek’s behavior during the third set of her match. Following the reception of a ball for her serve, the Polish champion vented her frustration by forcefully smashing the ball into the ground. The ball kid, evidently taken aback by Swiatek’s outburst, raised their arms in self-defense. The ball narrowly missing the child before it ricocheted into the audience.
This unexpected act of aggression was met with an immediate uproar from the crowd. The spectators, shocked by Swiatek’s near miss with the ball kid, expressed their disapproval with boos echoing from the stands.
This incident transpired minutes after Swiatek had lodged a complaint with the umpire, expressing her annoyance at the movement of the ball kids as she awaited Andreeva’s serve. However, her subsequent outburst seemed to overshadow her complaint, with many spectators and fans showing little sympathy for her frustration.
The umpire, in response to Swiatek’s grievances, reassured her by saying: “I am watching, I saw you holding your racket.” However, this exchange did little to placate the distressed champion.
Footage of the incident quickly spread online, sparking widespread condemnation. Fans voiced their disappointment and disapproval, with one remarking, “Ugly and dangerous, no need to take your anger out on a ball-kid.” Others were more scathing, stating, “Iga Swiatek deserved that loss, what a jerk. Awful behaviour, even made the ball kid flinch.”
The online outrage continued with another user commenting, “Terrible behaviour on the court. Have some dignity please. Leave the ball kids alone.” Further, one person described it as one of the worst displays of sportsmanship they had ever witnessed: “Swiatek literally hitting a ball back at a ball kid. Poor sportsmanship and dangerous play. I’ve never seen such ugly behaviour before.”
Despite the controversy swirling around Swiatek’s behavior, Andreeva remained unfazed. She is now setting her sights on securing her second WTA 1000 title as she prepares for the final.
