“Iga is so intelligent and independent,”– said Iga Swiatek’s father, Tomasz Swiatek. However, the journey towards independence was not easy for the Pole. While she had her family and her team to support her throughout, the system broke down relatively earlier than the World No.1 would have anticipated due to her parents’ separation. Amidst training and competition, Swiatek also had to adjust to the dark side of ‘divorce.’ How did things fare out for Iga Swiatek during the tumultuous time?
Numerous times, Swiatek has credited her father for her tennis career. However, there has been a surprising silence on her mother, Dorota Świątek. Why? Like every athlete during her foundational days, Swiatek had her family to support her dreams. However, a few years later, during her teenage, the Pole star was shocked by an unfavorable reality. Her parents’ divorce concluded with Swiatek and her sister Agata staying with the father. The responsibility earlier shared by both parents now rested solely on the father.
During an interview with Polityka, excerpts of which were published in Sports.pl, Polish author Marcin Piątek, revealed some hard truths about the Pole star’s family.“When Iga was a teenager, her parents divorced and Dorota’s mother suddenly disappeared from her daughter’s life.” Dorota’s disappearance from her daughter’s life is quite evident even now. The author further explains the change in the family’s schedule before and after the divorce.
Before the divorce, “The father took care of Agata, and the mother went everywhere with Iga. The seriousness with which they treated their daughters’ training required considerable financial outlays, and this burden was mainly on the mother who had a dental clinic near Warsaw.” However, things fell on Tomasz’s shoulders after separation. The Author further added, “After the divorce, both daughters stayed with Tomasz. Dorota did not change her place of residence or work, and her contact with Iga broke off.”
Though Dorota may not be in touch with her daughters, she makes sure to keep herself updated with the World No.1’s tennis career. Moreover, she congratulates her on her wins. Dorota once explained the complex relationship, “I watch most of the broadcasts from my daughter’s matches. Iga is already an adult, independent and self-reliant… I always congratulate my daughter on titles, usually by e-mail. On the other hand, contact is severely limited.”
Water has certainly flown under the bridge for the Pole star, as she has moved on from the dark past. And Swiatek has a strong support system in her father, as he stands tall beside his daughter. Once the proud father shrugged off small worries and advised her to enjoy tennis!
“Should focus on enjoying it!” said Iga Swiatek’s father in support of his daughter
Swiatek has buckled under pressure at times in the past. However, the Pole star has overcome those worries spectacularly. Sometimes, things may still go pear-shaped when she loses though. It’s not possible to win every match. Swiatek’s gameplay has made fans anticipate a strong performance all the time and when that doesn’t happen, emotions certainly fly high for both fans and the player. However, her father once dished out some advice, which might prove to be quite valuable for her.
Tomasz said, “Maybe Iga [Swiatek] has really accustomed fans to the fact that most matches are quite easy for her. However, one has to keep a certain distance from it. It’s not like she has to win every match. I myself explain to her that she has already done so much that now she doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone and should focus on enjoying it.”
Every athlete experiences a slump in their form from time to time. But often with the support of the family and the coaching staff, the journey back to the winning path becomes relatively easy. And Swiatek’s father, the former Olympic rower, certainly knows it by heart!
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