Swiatek Reveals Inner Turmoil Following Doping Controversy

Iga Swiatek describes the 'chaos' and inner turmoil she experienced during her doping ban, calling it 'the worst time in my life'.

Iga Swiatek, the 23-year-old Polish tennis star, has opened up about the turmoil she experienced during her recent doping ban. Speaking to reporters in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, Swiatek described the period as “the worst time in my life.” She had withdrawn from the WTA's late-season Asian swing in September, citing “personal matters,” but it was later revealed that she had been serving a one-month ban for testing positive for a banned heart drug.

Swiatek denied knowingly doping, attributing the positive test to contaminated non-prescription medication. “Trust me, I was the one that was the most surprised,” she emphasized. Swiatek recounted the uncertainty and chaos she faced during the initial weeks following the ban. “I had no idea what's going to happen. The first three weeks, I would say, were pretty chaotic.”

Swiatek expressed her distress and anxiety during that period, unsure of whether her suspension would be lifted soon. “I had no idea if my suspension was going to be lifted soon or not,” she admitted. Despite the challenges, Swiatek appears focused on moving forward and competing at the Australian Open.

Iga Swiatek has opened up about her recent experiences, revealing that a lack of control over a difficult situation made it even more challenging for her. “And the fact that I had no control over this whole situation and I had no chance to avoid it made it even worse because I'm a control freak a little bit,” she confessed.

Hiding in plain sight 😏📕#AO2025 @iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/k7vGfmmJMl

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 10, 2025

Swiatek has since returned to the tennis circuit, competing in the United Cup, where she secured four consecutive singles victories. However, her winning streak was halted by Coco Gauff in the final, with Swiatek losing 6-4, 6-4. Despite the defeat, Swiatek views her participation in the United Cup as valuable preparation for the Australian Open. “I think it was great preparation before the first Slam,” she reflected. “I think the quality of my game was also really nice. It also gave me some confidence.”

As the second seed, Swiatek is set to begin her Australian Open campaign against Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova, ranked 46. Her half of the draw features several formidable opponents, including fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, sixth seed Elena Rybakina, and eighth seed Emma Navarro. However, Swiatek will not face world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka until the final, provided she advances that far.

Despite being a five-time major champion, Swiatek has yet to make a significant impact at Melbourne Park. Her best performance at the Australian Open came in 2022, when she reached the semi-finals, only to be upset by Danielle Collins. This year, the 23-year-old Swiatek will be seeking to improve her record at the tournament.