“I hope I proved again that what people say doesn't matter”: Iga Swiatek sends message to critics

Sunday, 16 August 2026 at 01:00

Iga Swiatek arrives at the Cincinnati Open with more than a new WTA 1000 title. Her victory over Elena Rybakina in the Canadian Open final ended a long wait for her first trophy of the season, lifted her back into the Top 5 and gave her important momentum heading into the final Grand Slam stretch of 2026.

The Toronto triumph also gave Swiatek an opportunity to address the criticism that has surrounded her in recent months, particularly from parts of the Polish media and public. She had already made a pointed gesture during the trophy ceremony, but her comments in Cincinnati offered a clearer explanation of what was behind it.

The 25-year-old acknowledged that the scrutiny had affected both her and her team, while making clear that she had tried not to let it interfere with her decisions or her development. Her priority, she said, was to keep improving rather than allow outside opinions to define her.

Swiatek now returns to Cincinnati as defending champion, carrying considerably more confidence than she had earlier in the season. After winning her first title of 2026 in Toronto, she has an opportunity to build further momentum on hard courts with the US Open only two weeks away.

“I think everyone could guess”: Swiatek addresses the criticism

Swiatek was first asked about why the judgment directed at her appears particularly intense in Poland. She rejected the idea that the phenomenon is exclusive to her home country, pointing instead to a broader culture surrounding professional athletes.

“That's an interesting question, I think, for a sociologist or someone, because honestly, it's not only in Poland, but in Great Britain as well, in different countries, for different sports, not only for individual athletes.”

“There is a lot of judgment from different parts coming to us, and we need to handle it," Swiatek said at press conference. "For sure, last month I faced it, my team faced it, and my goal was not for it to interrupt my process and define who I am, and not be unsure about my decisions, and not let this disrupt anything.”

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Swiatek also confirmed that the criticism had not been limited to her personally. “Yeah, you would know a bit more if you were in Polish media, I guess, but for sure, it hasn't been fair.”

That context made her gesture after the Toronto final particularly notable. After beating Rybakina 6-2, 6-3, Swiatek appeared to put a finger to her lips during the celebrations.

Asked what the gesture meant, she kept her response short. “I think everyone could guess.”

When the question was narrowed down to whether it was directed at the criticism, Swiatek replied: “Yes, exactly. And that's all I wanted to say about it.”

Sweet Victory 🍁@iga_swiatek defeats Rybakina in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to secure the title in Toronto!#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/tyhN8Y3EtH
— wta (@WTA) August 13, 2026

“Sometimes it's painful”: Swiatek looks ahead

The Toronto title gave Swiatek something more valuable than an answer to her critics: a result that changed the trajectory of her season. It was her 12th WTA 1000 title and first trophy since September 2025, while the win over Rybakina improved her 2026 record to 29-12.

She said the criticism remains difficult to completely escape, even when results provide their own response. “First of all, I hope that I proved again that what people say doesn't matter. Sometimes it's painful, and sometimes it's hard to get away from it, because we're all people.”

Iga Swiatek celebrates her 6-3 1-6 6-3 win over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in National Bank Open

Rather than focusing exclusively on her own experience, Swiatek said she wanted to use the attention around her situation to push for a healthier environment for athletes.

“My focus was on growing, because it's just the world that we live in. It shouldn't be like that, so I took yesterday's opportunity to just talk about it a little bit more. Even if it helps one person, or one young athlete, know that we all try to do something with it, maybe it will help a little bit.”

Iga Swiatek's 2026 Canadian Open title run

Round	Opponent	Opp. ranking	Score
Final	Elena Rybakina	2	6-2, 6-3
SF	Elina Svitolina	9	6-3, 1-6, 6-3
QF	Diana Shnaider	17	6-2, 6-1
R16	Marta Kostyuk	11	3-6, 6-1, 6-2
R32	Viktorija Golubic	51	6-2, 6-1
R64	Sara Bejlek	38	6-0, 6-3

Her broader message was one of respect rather than simply asking critics to stop. “But I'd like the environment to be more respectful, and for everyone to feel safe and not attacked, because it's unnecessary.”

“Unfortunately, this kind of narrative is created by many people, so I hope it will change," the world No. 5 added. "I took advantage of this moment to try to change it and make it known.”

Swiatek now has the chance to turn the conversation back toward tennis. She is defending the Cincinnati title she won last year against Jasmine Paolini and will open this year's campaign against Emiliana Arango, who defeated Venus Williams 6-2, 6-2.

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The Pole has won 12 WTA 1000 titles and has already claimed eight of the 10 events on the calendar during her career, with only Dubai and Wuhan missing from her collection. More immediately, Cincinnati offers another chance to establish herself as one of the leading hard-court contenders before the US Open.

After months of scrutiny, Toronto finally gave Swiatek the result she wanted. Cincinnati will show whether that breakthrough can become sustained momentum.

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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