Iga Swiatek tears into Polish media for spreading fake news about her dealing with depression & other mental health disorders

Iga Swiatek addressed the rumors spread by Polish media about her mental health during her tennis hiatus caused by the doping controversy. She revealed that while the media abroad understood she was on a break, a lot of fake news about her personal life was spread in her home country.

Swiatek recently sat down for an interview with Tennis Insider Club's Caroline Garcia and Borja Duran. The World No. 2 was asked about how she handles the "pressure" or "hate" she receives from the outside and if it affects her.

Swiatek acknowledged that handling outside pressure and hate does affect her, as it does for anyone. To cope, she tries to avoid spending too much time on the internet, only posting what she wants and moving on. This reduces the chances of being impacted by negative comments.

The 23-year-old revealed that the toughest situation came from the Polish media, especially after she missed the China swing.

"I think, honestly, now I had the toughest situation with media and how they approached me in Poland because abroad, like, there was nothing. I didn't play China swing this year, obviously because of my case, now everybody knows that, but before, they didn't," she said (at 36:30).

"And, abroad, nobody said a word about it. Like, it was fine for them that I maybe took time off. But in Poland, it got crazy. Like, media, they diagnosed me with mental health disorders like I suddenly had depression. I was burned out. I was, you know, firing everybody from my team. Like, suddenly they wrote these articles, like clickbait titles as well, that there's something wrong with me because I didn't play two tournaments," she added.

This media frenzy was difficult for her as it felt like she had to constantly update them to avoid further speculation.

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"I think they are writing stuff they would never say to our faces" - Iga Swiatek on the "hate" she received from media

Iga Swiatek at the 2025 United Cup - Source: Getty

Iga Swiatek mentioned that once her doping controversy was made public, people understood, but before that, she felt like she was battling her toughest personal challenges without support.

"After we announced that I have this case, everybody suddenly understood, you know, but during this time when they didn't know, it was tough because I was literally battling my toughest battle that I ever had, and not feeling well," Iga Swiatek said.

The intense judgment from the Polish media, fueled by clickbait titles, made things even harder.

"Polish media was kind of after me, why I didn't play two tournaments. So, so the hate was, was big and, everybody's, like, instantly judging. I think they are writing stuff that they would never say to our faces. So, now I guess it's part of the job. It shouldn't be that way," she added.

Iga Swiatek received a one-month suspension after she tested positive for a substance called trimetazidine. The Pole's explanation of how she got contaminated was accepted by the ITIA and she was given a no-fault verdict.

The World No. 2 began her 2025 season representing Poland at the United Cup. She won all her singles matches before Coco Gauff defeated her in the final of the event.