Not that any year is void of controversies, but 2024 was something different. Two of the most high-profile tennis players, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, were involved in a much-lamented doping saga that fueled fans and players to criticize the authorities’ inconsistent actions taken against those involved. With tensions rising, Polish Swiatek has addressed the matter and has further, opened up about whether WADA would appeal against her.

The 23-year-old tested positive for the prohibited substance (trimetazidine), a heart medication manufactured and supplied in Poland, during an out-of-competition sample testing in August when she was ranked World No. 1. However, Swiatek pleaded her case to the ITIA and the panel accepted her defense that the violation was indeed unintentional. She was, however, still handed a one-month ban from the tour. As a result, she had to skip the entire Asian swing.

Having returned to the fold at the United Cup in Perth, the Pole expressed that while the incident had been mentally challenging for her, the public response wasn’t that bad. During a pre-tournament presser, an optimistic Swiatek insisted that, unlike Sinner’s case, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had no reason to appeal against her and she was ready to put the doping scandal behind her.

She said, “I don’t think there is any reason, because I didn’t play three tournaments. I was suspended for a long time, and I lost No. 1, you know, because of that. I also know how the procedure worked, and I gave every possible evidence and there is not much, honestly, to do more. So I don’t know, there is no point to do an appeal in our opinion, you know. I’m not expecting an appeal, but I have kind of no influence on what’s going to happen. So I guess, in my opinion, it was a fair process, and I trust ITIA that any case they do, they’re going to treat every player the same way and fairly.” 

All things considered, Swiatek handled questions over her doping allegations quite ‘calmly,’ something that wasn’t anticipated by an American ex-pro.

Andy Roddick expresses concern whether Iga Swiatek can handle doping queries as ‘calmly’ as Jannik Sinner

American star Andy Roddick was notably concerned whether Iga Swiatek would be able to handle questions over her doping nightmare as calmly as the Italian Jannik Sinner. The former World No. 1 opined that the Pole is sensitive and might not be able to face the media scrutiny. During an episode on his ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, the former US Open champion stated:

“My only concern for Iga Swiatek at scale is how she lands in Australia and how she deals with the questions. Because what is going to happen is that she is going to give the same answer to the same question for the same day for the next three months. Lesser people would become impatient, I certainly would have. She is sensitive, you can see her emote more than Jannik Sinner, who keeps things calm and tight. I am just concerned about a coaching change, this news coming out, how she shows up in Australia.”

However, Swiatek seems to be overcoming these concerns, and now, there remains only one task. All eyes are set on the Pole as she gears up to mark her comeback and finesse her skills at the Australian hardcourt swing in January 2025. Will Swiatek lift the trophy in Melbourne?