Iga Swiatek‘s closeness with her psychologist has become a matter of debate for a long time now. Ever since the Polish star parted ways with longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, the rumors surrounding her bond with Daria Abramowicz have started to circulate. Even after the 5-time grand slam winner announced her partnership with new coach Wim Fisette, nothing seems to have changed so far.

Iga Swiatek’s bond with her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, has sparked new conversations in the sports psychology world. Jakub B. Bączek, a prominent mental trainer, expressed his concerns about their long-standing, five-year working relationship. Bączek suggested that this lengthy collaboration could potentially become a “kind of trap.” He further talked about how such a long-term bond might risk crossing boundaries. “Since 2019, Iga Świątek has been working with one psychologist. In fact, I have heard from our community that this is an unusual situation,” Bączek shared.

“This relationship will be more than just a relationship between a psychologist and a client who pays for such a service. After five years, you can lose the fuses or principles of this professional cooperation,” he further added while suggesting that this partnership is much more than what many can think of.

However, it’s not the first time when such things have happened. Former tennis player Lech Sidor shared his impressions on a Eurosport podcast, voicing his observations about the professional dynamic between Swiatek and her team. He noted that her coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, “is a bit irritated by the whole situation.” However, he suggested that his perspective was purely subjective.

According to Sidor, some sports psychologists also question Abramowicz’s nearly constant presence in Swiatek’s life. “I know that the world of sports psychology is a bit surprised that Daria is everywhere with her,” Sidor said, hinting at blurred lines between their professional and personal boundaries. However, unfazed by the opinions, Daria Abramowicz suggested how these unwanted opinions harm the team.

Iga Swiatek’s psychologist opens up on how unwanted opinions by experts harm the team

Earlier this year, Iga Swiatek faced a tough semifinal loss against Qinwen Zheng at the Olympic Games – and had to settle with a bronze medal. Coping with the loss became challenging for Swiatek, and her emotional response spurred discussions about the importance of players controlling their emotions.

Daria Abramowicz, Swiatek’s long-time psychologist, has since voiced her frustration over these discussions, particularly regarding the pressure on athletes to regulate emotions strictly. Abramowicz said that the constant debate on this issue can be harmful, especially when it’s based on broad expectations rather than individual needs. She suggested that each player handles emotions uniquely, saying, “We seem to be making progress in terms of social awareness and suddenly some enlightened opinion from an ‘expert’ takes us back two steps.”

Abramowicz’s stance highlights the importance of personalized approaches to mental health and performance. Her response shows a growing awareness in sports that emotional expression is natural and necessary, even for top competitors like Swiatek. What are your views on this? Do let us know in the comments below!