After the five-time Grand Slam champion did not play in any respect throughout the Asian swing on account of “personal reasons,” it was revealed final Thursday that it occurred as a result of she was serving a provisional suspension after failing a doping take a look at. Based on the ITIA, the world No. 2 examined optimistic for trimetazidine (TMZ) however just for small traces and was in a position to show that it was unintentional and that it got here by means of a contaminated melatonin medicine.
In the long run, Swiatek escaped with only a one-month suspension and can have the ability to begin the 2025 season in time. Nevertheless, in a video message she uploaded after the ITIA announcement, the 23-year-old described it as “the toughest battle of her life” and admitted she was underneath monumental stress and anxiousness all through the method. And he or she appeared like somebody who was in misery for an prolonged time period and was simply relieved for it to be over.
Iga Swiatek© Iga Swiatek/Instagram – Honest Use
Â
Safina, who was probably the greatest gamers within the recreation 15 years in the past earlier than an unlucky again damage pressured her to play her final match at 25, thinks Swiatek is probably not the identical participant anymore.
“It will be interesting to watch Iga. For some reason, it seems to me that she disguises [her emotions] very beautifully. She is a ‘robot,’ she comes out on the court as if she has no emotions. But I have a feeling that something could go wrong and she could fall apart. From the outside, it seems that everything is too artificial, too professional,” the previous three-time Grand Slam finalist stated on Bolshe! Reside, by way of Championat.
Swiatek admitted the uncertainty was the worst
After being provisionally banned, the Polish tennis star needed to show that she wasn’t guilty for what occurred and clarify what brought on considered one of her samples to return as optimistic for a prohibited substance. Whereas the general public did not know something, the four-time French Open champion was fearing she can be faraway from the sport for an extended interval.
“There were many tears and lots of sleepless nights. The worst part of it was uncertainty. I didn’t know what was going to happen with my career, how things would end or if I would be allowed to play tennis at all,” Swiatek stated in a video message when addressing the doping scenario.
In that very same message, the 23-year-old did not conceal that she was involved that some could begin to have a look at her in a different way.Â
“I have a sense this situation could undermine the image I’ve been building for years. Which is why I hope you will understand what happened, understand how I had no control over it, and could do nothing to prevent this unfortunate turn of events. I hope you will stand by me and will keep supporting me, because I’m not sure if, without my supporters, I would have been able to find the strength to carry on and keep fighting. So now, I have fought the toughest battle of my life, and I hope you will stay with me and keep supporting me,” Swiatek stated.
Iga Swiatek© Polski Zwiazek Tenisowy/Instagram – Honest Use
Â
Safina praised Swiatek final week
The ex-Russian tennis star could have some doubts concerning the Pole’s future however simply final week she praised the world No. 2 for the consistency she has proven over the previous few years.Â
“In my time, there were more consistent players. There were Serena and Venus Williams, Davenport, Mauresmo, Henin, Sharapova, Clijsters and so on. Everyone was consistent all year round, they rarely had easy losses. The top 10 was very tight, you couldn’t touch the girls. And now someone can fail three or four tournaments and then return to the top 10. Now there is Gauff, Pegula, but they are all unstable. Only Sabalenka and Swiatek played the whole season almost without slumps,” Safina defined to Championat final week.
A bit apparently, the 2008 and 2009 French Open finalist additionally made one daring prediction for the 2025 season – she predicted that the 23-year-old will not win her fourth consecutive title at Roland Garros.
“Australia — Sinner and Sabalenka. Roland Garros — Zverev and, let it be, Muchova. I don’t think Å wiÄ…tek will win the Grand Slam on clay next year. Wimbledon — Alcaraz or Medvedev for men, Rybakina for girls. US Open — Medvedev or Rublev for men, Sabalenka again for girls,” Safina stated.
In 2025, Swiatek heads with new coach Wim Fissette, who has already famous that he has a transparent plan of the way to assist Swiatek elevate her recreation and be a fair larger menace exterior of clay.
