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World No. 2 Iga Swiatek is being labeled as the next Novak Djokovic—not for her on-court dominance alone, but also for the criticism she faces despite being one of the most exceptional tennis players of her generation. A five-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek has firmly established herself as a force to be reckoned with, securing three consecutive French Open titles.
At the 2025 Australian Open, Swiatek delivered a stellar performance, breezing through her early rounds with remarkable ease. However, her campaign ended in the semifinals, where she suffered a hard-fought defeat to Madison Keys. While her exit was disappointing for her fans, the backlash that followed was even more striking. Many took to social media to criticize her sportsmanship, reigniting the ongoing debate about why she struggles to gain widespread popularity despite her incredible achievements. Let’s take a deeper look at the factors fueling this divide.
A champion without the spotlight? Why fans struggle to connect with Iga Swiatek
Despite her dominance on the court, Iga Swiatek has not enjoyed the same level of admiration as some of her contemporaries. In an era where personalities often generate as much attention as athletic ability, she seems to lag behind players like Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Emma Raducanu in terms of global appeal.
One reason behind this could be Swiatek’s reserved nature. Unlike Sabalenka, who openly shares glimpses of her personal life and off-court friendships, Swiatek prefers to keep the spotlight solely on her tennis. While this is a respectable stance, it also limits her ability to connect with audiences on a deeper level. Even her appearance in Netflix’s Break Point did little to boost her visibility.
Swiatek herself has acknowledged the difficulty of drawing in fans, stating after her Australian Open loss:
"She pushed me when she needed to. I think it was 50/50 because I think maybe I would have won it sometimes if I could win easy points with my serve as she did."
However, the criticism against her extends beyond personality and into her conduct on the court. She has been accused of employing tactics that frustrate both opponents and spectators. In her match against Keys, she was booed for repeatedly pausing her opponent’s service routine. Similar incidents occurred at Wimbledon, where an extended bathroom break against Yulia Putintseva led to fans openly rooting against her.
This reaction is reminiscent of Novak Djokovic’s career, where, despite his unparalleled success, he has often found himself battling against a fanbase reluctant to embrace him. Much like Djokovic, Swiatek’s “crime” seems to be that she is simply too good, making her matches less thrilling for neutral audiences.
With time, Iga Swiatek may still win over the tennis world. But for now, she remains an enigma—an unstoppable champion struggling to be loved.
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