Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Thursday, 19 March 2026, 20:14 / Updated on Thursday, 19 March 2026 20:14
Iga Swiatek (24, world No. 3) has had a modest first half of the season, and critics point to psychologist Daria Abramowicz for the Pole's lack of confidence and visible frustration. However, the first coach of the six-time Grand Slam champion believes that she should not leave the staff, but just take a break.
The only ray of light in 2026 for Iga Swiatek was the triumph in United Cup together with the Polish team, in the first competition of the year. A discontinuous streak, however, because the former WTA leader won three matches, but lost two, the most important in terms of the opponent's value, with Coco Gauff and Belinda Bencic.
Then, however, he did not make it past the quarter-finals stage in the other contested tournaments, succumbing to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open, with Maria Sakkari in Doha and co Elina Svitolina at Indian Wells. By comparison, last year he lost only one match at the United Cup, reached the semi-finals in Melbourne, Doha and Indian Wells and reached the “quarters” in Dubai.
The Polish champion's frustration spilled over into her loss to Ukraine's Svitolina in California, with her making gestures rarely seen before, such as slamming her racket, plus heated dialogue with her teammates.
In this recent picture, but also looking at the recent past, experts and supporters point the accusing finger at the psychologist Daria Abramowicz. Inherent in Igai's lodge since she was still a junior, then just entering the professional circuit, she is seen as the disruptive factor rather than the positive one, who supports and helps. In addition, it seems that the classic sport-psychologist boundaries have been crossed.
5 – Iga Swiatek has lost five consecutive meetings against top-10 opponents for the first time in her career. Stop.#TennisParadise | @BNPPARIBASOPEN @WTA pic.twitter.com/2p56RLMSTI
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 13, 2026
Iga Swiatek's first coach: “Daria Abramowicz wants to be in control”
Artur Szostaczkothe first coach of the six-time Grand Slam champions, is of the same opinion. Lately, Swiatek has shown that her main opponent is herself, losing her lucidity and composure once she starts to make mistakes – a situation that did not exist a few years ago. And Iga, instead of being mentally strong, having a specialist on the team for so long, is floundering.
Abramowicz was accused that at Indian Wells, in the match with Svitolina in the quarterfinals, instead of calming Swiatek, he further destabilized her by yelling at her.
Szostaczko had already expressed doubts after the Doha tournament in the “Trzeci Serwis” podcast with commentator Lech Sidor. Moreover, he indicated that the two should take a break, to which Igai's father, former rower Tomasz Swiatek, accused them of “they have no idea about anything“.
Then, coach Artur Szostaczko resumed the topic in an interview for Polska Press, emphasizing that Daria Abramowicz's position is far too important in Iga's team and that her actions are counterproductive.
“It is unacceptable that the person responsible for the results of a tennis player, that is, her coach, plays a secondary role and sits in the second row, while in the first row is Daria Abramowicz, who wants to be in control, manages everything and is allowed to do so. Iga lacks self-confidence. He lacks peace of mind, and this is reflected in the results. Yelling at a tennis player from a psychologist and vice versa is absurdSzostaczko said.
Iga Swiatek, psychologist Daria Abramowicz and trainer Wim Fissette Photo: Imago Images
Artur Szostaczko: “To try a different approach”
Iga's first coach pointed out that when a player is irritated by her own performance, she stops listening to the technical staff. Every word, even with the best intentions, can anger her. Abramowicz should try to calm her down, but he doesn't. However, when asked about the potential end of this collaboration, Szostaczko honestly assessed that it will most likely end with the end of Iga Swiatek's entire career.
“In my opinion, this psychologist should stay with the team for the rest of her career. I will point out again that maybe he should take time off between tournaments, try a different approach and see if it works or not. However, these are adults, each of whom is responsible for his own profession, so I will not give them advice“, he concluded.
No. 2 favorite in the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami, Swiatek, who dropped to world No. 3, has the first round free, then she will face her compatriot Magda Linette (34 years old, 50th place WTA). The two fought only once more, in 2023, in Beijing, in the “eighties”, and Iga prevailed with 6-1, 6-1.
