From an emotional player to a strong one, Iga Swiatek has come a long way. Who would have thought that the Polish tennis player would change herself in such a way that people admire her, and not just for her dominant ways on the court? Recently, the five-time Grand Slam champion opened up about the change in times and becoming a mentally strong role model.

After winning her fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open just a few weeks ago, she recently sat down in an interview with psychologist Daria Abramowicz and talked about the mental perspective of the game. But at the same time, in people’s eyes, her perspective regarding her mentality has changed over time.

She stated, “Three or four years ago, I was called too emotional and accused of crying during matches. Today, I am held up as a model of mental resilience on the court and I am not afraid to say that this is a well-deserved opinion.” On the other hand, last year the Polish tennis player, Swiatek revealed how she has never been ashamed of crying on the court.

Last year, she admitted that she felt like people were judging her whenever she was let her emotional side show and let tears flow after a win, or even a loss. She stated, in an interview, “Things turned around with the Australian Open, but then my biggest struggle happened that summer during the Tokyo Olympics,” Iga Swiatek recalled. “I cried on the court after I lost in straight sets, and I felt like people were judging me a little bit.”

Further, she has learned a lesson, realizing that she doesn’t have to care about what others think when she is the one who is performing on the court with all the overwhelming emotions of victories and defeats. She stated, “While you’re on this journey, striving for excellence, you can sometimes say, ‘Okay, that’s enough.’ You’re in control, the whole way. No one else is driving the car.”

However, now things have changed in such a way that she is not affected by people’s judgment. The world’s number one-ranked tennis player has her own ways of dealing with the comments revolving around her and keeping her mental health secure when it comes to her personality and her game.

Iga Swiatek likes to keep her distance from overwhelming comments 

Being the world’s number one comes with a lot of responsibilities, and one of them is dealing with the pressure that comes from social media and from fans. Last year in an interview with Vogue, Iga Swiatek stated, “I have my ways if I’m feeling too overwhelmed or if I see too many comments about myself. I just try to stay low, and off social media.” 

She also places a great deal of pressure on herself to perform. Being among the best tennis players of all time, the Polish sensation faces tremendous internal pressure to do well in the game. However, with victories and her amazing fan following by her side, she has definitely turned sides and become a mentally strong player, after venting out her emotional side on the court!