WTA World Number 1 Iga Swiatek’s coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, does not approve of the criticism regarding the Polish player’s lack of a backup plan. Swiatek, a talented tennis player from Poland, won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite this commendable achievement, the 23-year-old received some backlash for not clinching the gold medal, which was expected of her due to her exceptional performance on clay courts. In the semifinals, she was defeated by Qinwen Zheng, resulting in her missing out on the opportunity to secure her first Olympic gold medal.
While losing to Zheng may not have been entirely unexpected, Swiatek’s defeat in straight sets raised concerns and invited criticism. The five-time Grand Slam champion faced scrutiny from her detractors, who once again highlighted her alleged lack of an alternative strategy. Tennis commentator Lech Sidor expressed the view that Swiatek failed to adapt her game plan when facing Zheng. According to Sidor, despite struggling with her backhand shots, the Polish player did not attempt any other tactics, suggesting a lack of a backup plan.
Although a few others shared this perspective, Swiatek’s coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, chose to dismiss Sidor’s comments. He disregarded the criticism, stating that he does not engage with individuals who have not competed at the highest level and rely solely on media coverage for their understanding of the sport. When asked about Sidor’s observation regarding Swiatek’s lack of a plan B, Wiktorowski appeared irritated and inquired about the source of such a significant claim. Upon learning that it was Sidor, he made it clear that he would only address comments from authoritative figures.
It is worth noting that Swiatek entered the Paris Olympics as the favorite. Ranked as the world’s number one player and having won four out of the five Grand Slam titles on the same court where the Olympic matches took place, a gold medal seemed almost certain for Swiatek. Even in her match against Qinwen Zheng, the Polish player was considered the clear favorite, given her flawless 6-0 record against Zheng prior to the competition.
Photo from Iga Swiatek Instagram
