“I told her three times to stop”: Iga Swiatek’s physio responds to backlash over Wuhan injury scenes

Monday, 19 October 2026 at 04:30

Iga Swiatek’s Wuhan Open campaign ended in a painful semi-final defeat to Maja Chwalinska, with the six-time Grand Slam champion visibly struggling physically during the match. The scenes sparked criticism over why she remained on court despite her apparent discomfort, with some questioning whether her physiotherapist should have intervened more forcefully.

Swiatek struggled throughout the encounter and was pictured in tears during a medical timeout as her team attempted to help her manage the problem. Despite those efforts, she lost the second set 6-1, bringing a difficult afternoon to an end and raising further questions about her decision to continue competing.

The Polish star later acknowledged that she had considered withdrawing after her second-round match, underlining the extent of the physical concerns she was experiencing in Wuhan. Her decision to play on in the semi-final nevertheless prompted debate, with some criticism directed at Maciej Ryszczuk, her long-time physiotherapist.

Ryszczuk has now responded publicly to those comments, rejecting suggestions that he pushed Swiatek to continue playing while injured. In a message on X, he said he had repeatedly advised her to stop the match, stressing that the decision to remain on court belonged to the player herself.

Iga with Maciej🗣️: 🇵🇱 -> 🇺🇸 ,, You can take 2 more Paracetamols if you want, Mateusz said that. If you want you can try 3 times, play with kick and hit the first ball. And if not then end it, there is no sense to continue. We have time soo you can recover.” Heart breaking💔😖 https://t.co/tfipOIzxqX
— Iga Swiatek Updates (@IgaUpdates_) October 17, 2026

Iga Swiatek’s physio says he told her to stop three times

Ryszczuk responded to a social media post questioning why he was pushing Swiatek to continue playing rather than encouraging her to retire. The criticism followed the Pole’s physically difficult semi-final against Maja Chwalinska, during which she struggled on court and lost the second set 6-1.

The physiotherapist firmly rejected the suggestion that he had encouraged her to play through the problem, explaining that he had advised her to stop.

“Please stop talking nonsense, I told her three times to stop the match because it's bad for her health,” he wrote on X. “She made the decision herself to continue playing, and since she made that one, I support her as much as I can.”

@wielkietytuly Przestań proszę opowiadać głupoty, 3 razy mówiłem, żeby przerwała mecz bo szkoda zdrowia. Sama podjęła decyzję o dalszej grze, a jak podjęła taka to wspieram jak mogę
— Maciej Ryszczuk (@MRyszczuk) October 17, 2026

The user who initially criticised Ryszczuk subsequently replied with an apparently sarcastic apology, claiming to have misread his facial expression during the broadcast.

“Oh, and I'm so terribly sorry, I misread that facial expression between the commentators' comment!”

Ryszczuk then addressed the wider issue of people interpreting brief on-court moments without knowing what has happened behind the scenes. “So, I'm asking for less interpretation of this kind because they are often hurtful.”

@wielkietytuly To prosze o mniej interpretacji tego typu bo są często krzywdzące
— Maciej Ryszczuk (@MRyszczuk) October 17, 2026

Swiatek had already considered withdrawing in Wuhan

The defeat also came as Swiatek assessed her remaining schedule and her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals. She admitted that her season had included missed opportunities, pointing to some losses she felt she could have avoided.

“Well, you know, it would be great to get it over with, but it’s okay,” the former world No. 1 remarked during press conference, discussing the possibility of qualifying for the WTA Finals. “This is the result of the whole season, and I can’t expect that in my tournament I’m gonna, you know… just get in."

“It’s a result of not being able to play in Madrid, like losing first round in Miami, like losing some matches that maybe I shouldn’t have,” the 6-time major champion added. “I’m for sure motivated. I feel like I’m playing good and it’s been a good week. I feel like I’m hitting the ball good, so I’ll play, I’ll rest, and I’ll go to Ningbo and see how it goes. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. I can also go on a longer vacation.”

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Swiatek is 645 points behind Karolina Muchova, who currently occupies the final qualifying spot for the WTA Finals. With two WTA 500 tournaments remaining in her season, the Pole needs at least one title and a deep run at the other event to keep her hopes alive.

She will begin this week in Ningbo, where she is the second seed and awaits the winner of the first-round match between Marie Bouzkova and qualifier Kamila Rakhimova.

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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