Tennis commentator Tomasz Smokowski has sparked sharp debate by questioning Iga Świątek’s independence on and off the court, placing the ongoing controversy over her close working relationship with psychologist Daria Abramowicz back into the international sports spotlight.
The role of Daria Abramowicz within Iga Świątek’s coaching setup has drawn scrutiny for years. While supporters openheartedly praise the psychologist’s merits, also recalling the effects of her collaboration with other athletes spearheaded by Aleksandra Mirosław and Ewa Pajor, others argue that Abramowicz has for several years fulfilled the role of a mentor and friend to Iga Świątek rather than strictly that of a sports psychologist.
The relationship between Iga Świątek and Daria Abramowicz has drawn controversy for years. Following the player’s defeat at the US Open, this topic returned when WP SportoweFakty managing director Paweł Wilkowicz addressed the close relationship between Świątek and Abramowicz in a conversation with Tomasz Smokowski on the “Studio Sport” program.
Tenis. Smokowski o relacji Świątek i Abramowicz. Powiedział to
Program host Paweł Wilkowicz stated that Iga was being incapacitated on the court, as though her shots depended on Daria’s reactions, adding that it was impossible to analyze the course of every single game by watching Daria Abramowicz. Reaction to Tomasz Smokowski was not long in coming.
Debate on Court Independence and Team Dynamics
He concluded bitterly by disagreeing with that view, noting that on the one hand everyone should deeply appreciate living in the era of Iga Świątek, who had won more Grand Slam titles than former tennis players whom people today treat as the great legends of the sport, but returning to the structure of the team, he felt that the relations and rules between Iga and Daria were disrupted, expressing his opinion that the role of a sports psychologist is to prepare an athlete to be independent in sport and in life, because when someone goes to a psychologist, their role is to equip that person with the knowledge and skills to become independent, which led him to question whether Iga was independent and to assert that she had not been independent for many years.
Zadziwiające słowa eksperta o Idze Świątek i Darii Abramowicz
Tomasz Smokowski has spoken out in such a tone about the Świątek-Abramowicz duo before. In March of this year on Kanale Sportowym, he directly suggested that Daria Abramowicz should serve solely and exclusively as a sports psychologist in Iga Świątek’s team and not mix private life into it.
Contrasting Views on Professional Boundaries
He asked whether anyone had ever gone on vacation with their doctor or their therapist, suggesting that one sphere of life should be kept very separate from another, and posed the core question of whether it was normal to go on vacation with one’s doctor.
Smokowski ostro o współpracy Świątek z Abramowicz
The discussion also unfolded against the backdrop of the 2026 season, which began poorly for Iga Świątek after a series of unsuccessful performances. She eventually dismissed her coach Wim Fissette, replacing him with Spaniard Francisco Roig, though the Pole continued to perform below expectations, falling in the fourth round of Roland Garros to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 5:7, 1:6, and exiting Wimbledon in the third round against Alexandra Eala 6:7, 2:6. A breakthrough arrived at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, where the Raszyn native reached the final in fine style and decisively defeated reigning WTA ranking leader Elena Rybakina 6:2, 6:3, notably without Francisco Roig physically present on site while Daria Abramowicz accompanied her alongside remote communication with Roig. When Iga subsequently fell in the 1/8 finals of the US Open to Zheng Qinwen 5:7, 3:6, Daria Abramowicz once again became cast as the “culprit” for the defeat.
Upcoming Schedule and Return to WTA Competition
Following her defeat in the round of 16 at the US Open against Qinwen Zheng, Iga Świątek is taking a longer break from competition. As six-time major champion PR manager Daria Sulgostowska informed Interia, she is set to return to international competition at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, which begins on September 30.
Iga Świątek’s appearance in the Billie Jean King Cup play-offs remains a question mark. As Daria Sulgostowska communicated, Raszynianka will announce her decision regarding this tournament herself in due time, meaning observers must arm themselves with patience.
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