Iga Swiatek recently shared her emotional struggles following a tough period marked by a one-month suspension due to a doping violation, leaving her hesitant to return to the tennis court. Despite the setback over the weekend, she has powered through to secure a spot in the Miami Open quarter-finals, where she’ll compete against young Filipino talent, Alexandra Eala, this Wednesday.
“Security remains our top priority,” her spokesperson stated emphatically. “We keep a close watch on the network to address any issues right away. While constructive criticism is welcomed, we draw the line at threats, hate speech, and any disruptions during training. Such behavior is simply unacceptable.”
In response to what happened, tournament organizers and the WTA have quickly ramped up security measures to protect Swiatek, the former world number one. The Miami Open officials emphasized to AFP that they take the safety of everyone involved in the tournament very seriously. “We constantly assess potential threats and are committed to taking the necessary actions to address them,” they assured.
The incident with Swiatek highlights the continuous risks that female athletes face, an issue that has seen increasing attention recently. In a related episode, 22-year-old Emma Raducanu was understandably shaken last month in Dubai when a man, previously reported for “exhibiting fixated behavior,” appeared in the stands during her match.
Stephanie Hilborne, leading the Women in Sport charity, remarked to BBC Sport about the ubiquitous concern for safety, noting that “every single woman has a level of fear” they have to navigate. BBC Sport is still awaiting further comments from the WTA and Miami Police on these matters.
