Mark
Petchey, former coach of Andy Murray, weighed in on a social media debate about
Iga Swiatek after Chris Hasek-Watt from the Love Means Nothing podcast
raised the question: “Is the Polish player the most unlikeable No. 1 in WTA
history?”
Swiatek has
spent 125 weeks as World No. 1 during her career, making her the seventh player
with the most total weeks at the top in WTA history. The five-time Grand Slam
champion held the top spot until 21 October, when Aryna Sabalenka overtook her,
concluding the year as No. 1.
Mark Petchey joins heated debate on Swiatek’s public image
This
season, Swiatek claimed five titles — four WTA 1000 events and her fourth
French Open crown — the most titles won by any player this year. At just 23
years old, she has an impressive 22 titles from 26 finals, including five Grand
Slam titles and 10 WTA 1000 trophies, as well as the 2023 WTA Finals.
Read also
Recently,
Swiatek was involved in a doping controversy related to melatonin
contamination, which resulted in a one-month suspension. The incident drew
parallels with Jannik Sinner’s doping case from August, in which the Italian
escaped suspension. Both cases have sparked criticism within the tennis world,
with accusations of preferential treatment compared to other ATP and WTA
players.
During the Love
Means Nothing podcast, Chris Hasek-Watt shared his take on the situation,
comparing public reactions to Swiatek and Sinner:
“There is nothing likeable about Iga Swiatek,” he said in a video shared on
social media, claiming fans were far more supportive of the Italian than the
Polish player.
“People
don’t like her. People like Sinner; he’s a good guy. I’ve said before, I found
him maybe a little boring, and his stardom I think is a little fabricated, but
he is a good guy, he’s a likeable guy, whereas Swiatek isn’t, ok?”
“She
doesn’t know how to interact, she doesn’t know how to have fun and make people
happy; she’s just like a robot. And when she got caught for the substances, I
don’t think there was a lot of love for her. But again, it was another slap on
the wrist.”
In response
to the post on X (formerly Twitter) asking, “Is Iga Swiatek the most unlikeable
#1 in WTA history?”, former Andy Murray coach Mark Petchey entered the debate
with a sarcastic remark: “Hate to engage but in a world of freezing cold takes
this is permafrost.”
Hate to engage but in a world of freezing cold takes this is permafrost
— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) December 16, 2024
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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