"People who have no idea what problems players struggle with": Iga Swiatek's coach denounces criticism for Pole's lack of 'plan B' in Olympics SF loss

Iga Swiatek's coach Tomasz Wiktorowski has shut down the claims that the World No. 1 lacks a "plan B" in her game, which have cropped up in light of her loss in the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Wiktorowski emphasized that he puts no stock in the criticisms of those who have no firsthand experience of the challenges that players face at the highest level.

Although Swiatek ultimately clinched the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, her uncharacteristic loss to Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals has sparked significant discourse. Despite her dominance on clay, the World No. 1 struggled to challenge Zheng, who secured a commanding 6-2, 7-5 victory en route to her gold medal finish.

In a recent interview with WP SportoweFakty, Tomasz Wiktorowski was asked about the common accusation that the five-time Grand Slam champion often lacks a "plan B," which impacts her performance in challenging matches like the Olympics semifinals.

However, Wiktorowski expressed his disdain for the claim, questioning the credibility of the "expert" behind it. Upon learning that former Polish player turned commentator Lech Sidor was the source, he emphasized that he only valued the opinions of those he respected.

The 43-year-old defended Iga Swiatek, dismissing the accusation as baseless. Wiktorowski asserted that he disregarded the judgments of people who were unfamiliar with the struggles that top players undergo, denouncing those who made such claims based solely on what they saw on television.

"I refer to the opinions of people whom I value, respect and who are authorities for me. I do not refer to the comments of people who sit in one place, were not outstanding players or did not coach players playing at the highest level, do not know the realities of the current tennis tour," Iga Swiatek's coach said.

"Do not see how we work, have no idea what problems tennis players struggle with today, and draw their knowledge of modern tennis from media coverage and are only concerned with "telling" about tennis while looking at the TV screen," he added.

"Iga Swiatek is still haunted by the defeat in the semifinal, however, she is leaving the Paris Games with a medal and that is the dream" - Coach Tomasz Wiktorowski

Iga Swiatek with her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski (Source: Getty)

During the same interview, Iga Swiatek's coach Tomasz Wiktorowski disclosed that while the World No. 1 was still "haunted" by her semifinal loss, she would eventually come to appreciate the significance of winning an Olympic medal.

"I think that Iga's awareness of what she has managed to achieve will grow with time, and today she is certainly still haunted by the defeat in the semi-final. Ultimately, however, she is leaving the Paris Games with a medal, and that is the dream of every tennis player," he said.

Wiktorowski also observed that the Pole had already managed to find joy in her bronze medal victory, suggesting that she and her entire team would soon fully grasp the importance of the feat.

"Besides, I can already see moments of relaxation and joy in her after the medal. We - as a team - have similar feelings and I have the impression that the weight of this success will sink in in the coming days," he added.

Following her deep run at the Paris Olympics, Iga Swiatek has postponed the start of her North American hard court swing by pulling out of the Canadian Open. The World No. 1 will be back in action at the Cincinnati Open, commencing on August 13.