“Our main goal was to become No. 1 player in the world and it was the coach[Wiktorowski] who first said it out loud,” Iga Swiatek stated while bidding her ex-coach an emotional farewell on Friday (4 October). This caused a stir in Poland as well as the tennis world. Journalists and insiders criticized Wiktorowski’s coaching style, suggesting it wasn’t the right fit for Swiatek. Reports even claimed they lacked a strong connection. However, a recent source claims a different version of the story. One that is concerned with the world No. 1’s psychologist.
The tennis world was shocked when Iga Swiatek and her coach split. Initially, it seemed she made the decision. But new reports suggest Wiktorowski ended the partnership due to frustration with Swiatek’s “personal” psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, whose influence on Iga is “unimaginable”.
According to sportowy24.pl, a polish publication, Abramowicz reportedly played a much larger role than just a mental coach. Abramowicz was expected to assist Wiktorowski in training and offer in-match coaching to Swiatek on specific techniques. This constant interference did not sit well with Wiktorowski, who eventually grew tired of the situation. His frustration peaked during the US Open when he decided he could no longer tolerate what was described as a “chook dance” with Abramowicz. This led to him to finally say: “Enough!” and leave the team.
Świątek’s public statement on Instagram initially gave the impression of a mutual decision, as she warmly thanked Wiktorowski, saying, “I want to start by saying thank you, because that’s what’s most important to me today.” She went on to praise his impact on her career, stating, “His experience, analytical and strategic approach meant that I started achieving successes I had never even dreamed of.” Despite the grateful tone of her statement, Świątek also hinted at Wiktorowski’s desire to step away, acknowledging that, “I know the coach wants to spend some time with his loved ones and relax after these intense 3 years.”
Abramowicz even tried to convince Wiktorowski to stay and work through their differences, but the coach had already made up his mind. The separation was inevitable after the tension between them grew too large to ignore. However, adding more to this part of the story, there are other Polish insiders who clearly highlighted the possible role of Iga Swiatek’s therapist in the whole coach split saga.
Polish insiders critique psychologist’s role in Swiatek’s coaching split
Some experts believe that Iga Świątek’s psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, had a big role in the abrupt split between Świątek and her coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. Jan Tomaszewski, a Polish former football legend, openly questioned Abramowicz’s involvement in Świątek’s team: “I agree 100 percent; something is wrong here.” Tomaszewski was among the first ones to suggest that the psychologist’s role may have contributed to the “expiration” of the coach-player relationship.
Adding to this speculation, Polish tennis commentator Tomasz Wolfke also dropped his thoughts, doubting the dynamics within Świątek’s team. In an interview with the Interia portal, Wolfke pointed out that Abramowicz appears to hold a position unlike any other psychologist in sports. “How much did Wiktorowski have to put his ears to the ground in this extremely unique situation, in which it is clearly visible that Daria Abramovich is the eminence grise of this team? I don’t recall another situation in sports when the psychologist was so visible.”
Wolfke and Tomaszewski’s comments intensified the conversation around Abramowicz’s control. With the WTA Finals in Riyadh approaching, it remains to be seen who finally joins Iga’s team as her next coach.