Iga Swiatek faces a crisis: Psychologist accused of harming her game.

Iga Swiatek, the prominent figure in women’s tennis, is going through a turbulent phase in her career, and criticism is mounting, particularly from an unexpected voice — her former childhood coach, Artur Szostaczko. The tension within her team, especially regarding psychologist Daria Abramowicz, is under intense scrutiny, with Szostaczko claiming that she is harming the athlete’s performance.

Following a lukewarm start to the 2026 season, where Swiatek failed to reach the semifinals in any of the major tournaments, including the Australian Open and the BNP Paribas Open, the pressure has increased. The hardest blow came with her early elimination at the Miami Open, where she was upset by Magda Linette in the opening round. This situation led to the departure of Wim Fissette, the coach who guided her to her first title at Wimbledon.

In explosive statements to Interia Sport, Szostaczko did not hold back criticism, claiming that Swiatek’s relationship with her psychologist is creating a harmful dependency. “I know many coaches and people in the tennis world. No one has worked with a psychologist like Iga. Of course, a psychologist can help, but moderation is necessary. In the relationship between psychologist and athlete, there is usually some kind of entanglement and dependency. And the psychologist has the advantage in this situation. It is possible that this is happening with Iga, who may not know another reality,” said Szostaczko.

Additionally, the former coach raised questions about the influence of Swiatek’s father, insinuating that his presence may be adding unnecessary pressure on the athlete. “I wouldn’t want to see a player who has won six titles and was number one apologizing for losing. It’s a tragedy to see her crying in front of the cameras. Is she only 12 years old? Who is she apologizing to and why?” Szostaczko questioned, expressing his concern about how external pressure is affecting the young tennis player.

Since her early years under Szostaczko’s guidance, Swiatek has always shown potential. However, her career has been marked by ups and downs. Following her departure from Fissette, the question everyone is asking is: will Iga be able to overcome this turbulent moment and shine again on the courts?

The drop in the WTA rankings, where Swiatek fell to fourth place, with Coco Gauff surpassing her as the new number three, is a clear reflection of her current struggles. Fans and critics are eagerly awaiting a return to the form that took her to the pinnacle of world tennis. The future of Iga Swiatek is at stake, and the voices around her are becoming increasingly deafening. It remains to be seen whether the athlete can silence them and find her way back to success.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.