Iga Swiatek shows true colours as Victoria Azarenka issues complaint

Iga Swiatek speaking after Victoria Azarenka's complaints.

Iga Swiatek made her feelings perfectly clear on Victoria Azarenka after the Belarusian complained during their match. The Bad Homburg fourth seed booked her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-4 win over Azarenka, but she had to field some accusations from her opponent between points. While serving for the match, Swiatek threw the ball up but opted not to strike it, instead bouncing it a few more times before then getting the point underway. These delays appeared to irk Azarenka, who interrupted play to speak with the umpire. “Every time it’s the same story,” she declared. “As soon as she’s down in the game, she’s taking her time. Like over the time. And you’re not checking. Every time.” Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

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There were mutterings of applause in the Taunus mountains before Swiatek served out to claim her 300th career win and secure a first victory of the grass-court season. When Azarenka failed to return with her backhand, sealing Swiatek’s win, she notably looked away from her opponent when they shook hands at the net. The 24-year-old also raised her arms to the umpire to indicate that she was baffled by Azarenka’s complaints. Swiatek’s reaction was evidence that the Polish star is not prepared to take any negativity that comes her way and is instead only focusing on the task at hand. Sign up here to receive all the latest tennis and Wimbledon news straight to your inbox

Iga Swiatek and Victoria Azarenka looking away in their handshake.

A disappointing 12 months for Swiatek have forced her to enter Wimbledon as the eighth seed, her lowest position since 2021. She was the number one seed for 11 consecutive majors between 2022 and 2024 before dropping below a host of top names. She can now face the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff at the quarter-final stage and knows she cannot afford many slip-ups if she wants to claim the title in SW19. Swiatek was playing her first match since her 26-match French Open winning run was snapped, rallying from 4-1 down in the first set to beat Azarenka for the fifth time in a row and set up a quarter-final with either Ekaterina Alexandrova or wildcard Maria Sakkari.

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