Iga Swiatek condemns hate comments after Cincinnati comeback

WATCH: Swiatek's full statement to begin her Western & Southern Open press conference.

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Iga Swiatek began her Western & Southern Open press conference with an emphatic entreaty following her 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Zheng Qinwen, asking for a reduction in hate messages—sent to both herself and her coaching team on social media.

“Today’s match wasn’t perfect, and we all saw that, but the amount of hate and criticism that me and my team get after even losing a set is just ridiculous,” she said. “I would encourage people to be more thoughtful when they comment on the Internet.

“It would be great if you guys,” she adds, speaking directly to members of the press, “would kind of help us to make it happen as journalists. We all sacrifice a lot and we all are working really hard to be in that place. We are always giving 100% of what we can do every day. It’s kind of sad for me to see that people I work with and myself, we are really judged. I would really encourage people to be more thoughtful and to also focus on the positive side of what we’re doing.

“Even though I didn’t start the match well, I would love for people to see how I problem-solved and got out of troubles. For sure, I didn’t feel my best game or that it wouldn’t be a good performance in the first set, I was able actually to do that. I’m doing a lot of work, physically, mentally, and also off-court. I’m trying to be the best kind of person and player as possible. I just wanted to encourage people on the internet to be more positive and also to see the positive side of what we’re doing.”

I would love for people to see how I problem-solved and got out of troubles. For sure, I didn’t feel my best game or that it wouldn’t be a good performance in the first set, I was able actually to do that. I’m doing a lot of work, physically, mentally, and also off-court. I’m trying to be the best kind of person and player as possible. I just wanted to encourage people on the internet to be more positive and also to see the positive side of what we’re doing. Iga Swiatek

The world No. 1 and top seed expressed dismay at the level of perfection ostensibly expected of her given the amount of negativity that followed an otherwise positive day on the court, one in which she rallied from a set down to improve her head-to-head against Zheng to 4-0 on Thursday.

“On the Internet I feel like it's getting worse and worse, the hate and the amount of comments that are really, like, straightforward and sometimes even a little bit mean,” she added later. “So, I wish it could change, because I feel like the Internet is not going to be a safe place anymore for us to go and to read stuff.

“I just kind of wanted me and my team to be a little bit more respected sometimes. But I also know that I'm not going to have 100% influence on what people are going to think or write. I just think the world and the Internet could be a better place if we all kind of work on that.”

Swiatek has continued to make the most of her bully pulpit since ascending to the top of the WTA rankings in 2022, successfully advocating for the women’s tour to begin using extra-duty tennis balls during the North American summer hard-court swing and opining on the importance of scheduling reform to prevent late finishes for her and her fellow players.

On the Internet I feel like it's getting worse and worse, the hate and the amount of comments that are really, like, straightforward and sometimes even a little bit mean. So, I wish it could change, because I feel like the Internet is not going to be a safe place anymore for us to go and to read stuff. Iga Swiatek

“For sure, weather is something we can’t really predict, but maybe we should focus more on what is healthy for players because we have to compete every week,” Swiatek explained in her Media Day press conference on Monday. “The tour is so intense with travel and not actually having two days of calm and not working that it would be nice in the future to focus on players, especially next year when there will be more and more mandatory tournaments and longer tournaments.”

The 22-year-old, who admitted this issue has been building for most of the 2023 season, a positive face towards the hate comments, commending her problem-solving against Zheng and her ability to largely back up a break out season with a fourth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros and a continued hold on the No. 1 ranking.

“Sometimes I feel like it's just unnecessary, and I'm always, you know, doing my best,” she added. “It's not possible to perform your best game all the time. I also saw that after Dubai and Doha when I won a tournament and then was in the final, I was pretty proud of my results, but people really kind of just saw the last match and that I lost in the final, and they shouldn't. So, I wish they could see the positive side as well.”

Swiatek will next face reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova for a chance to reach her first semifinal in Cincinnati.