The tennis off-season is usually a quiet time—a few exhibition matches, some training footage, and holiday updates from players. But this year, the buzz is louder than ever, with two of the sport’s brightest stars, Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, embroiled in doping controversies. The drama has kicked up another notch with former Canadian player Chris Hasek-Watt making some bold and brutal comments.

Known for its unfiltered takes, Hasek-Watt didn’t hold back in the Love Means Nothing podcast’s latest episode on December 8.“There is nothing nice about Iga Świątek,” he began.

“People do not like her. People like Sinner because he is a good guy. I have said before that maybe he is a bit boring and his stardom is a bit invented, but he is a good guy, he is a nice guy, while Świątek is not, okay?” he blurted out.

“She doesn’t know how to interact, she doesn’t know how to have fun and make people happy. She’s just like a robot. And when she was caught doping, I don’t think she was given much support,” Hasek-Watt said, causing a huge stir on social media.

“Who are you to judge who is liked and who is not? And if you are going to mention someone’s name three times in 50 seconds, make sure you do it accurately,” famous journalist Bastien Fachan reacted to the Canadian’s recording. Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey also weighed in. “I don’t want to get involved, but in a world of freezing cold, it’s permafrost,” he wrote sarcastically.

The contrast between the two players’ support networks is hard to ignore. Sinner, despite facing the same allegations, has enjoyed widespread backing from the tennis world. Heavyweights like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have come to his defence, while fellow players like Andrey Rublev and Carlos Alcaraz have shown solidarity. Even legends like Andre Agassi refused to believe the doping accusations against him.

Swiatek, on the other hand, has faced a much cooler response. While her new coach, Wim Fissette, and former stars like Alexandra Stevenson and Andy Roddick have spoken up for her, only one active player—Jessica Pegula—has openly supported her. This dynamic perhaps reflects a personal journey that Swiatek has openly acknowledged.

In the Player’s Tribunal last year, she shared her challenges as an introvert. She said, “There was a time in my life when I was so introverted that speaking to people was a real challenge. Until I was 17 or 18, it was hard sometimes to look people in the eyes. I hated how hard it was for me. It felt really bad not being able to make connections. But with some people, my mind was just blank, and I didn’t know what to say. Small talk wasn’t natural to me.”

After the Polish tennis player became the World No.1, she found a way to keep the pressure off of her by setting her priorities straight. She revealed to the Polish media outlet WP SportoweFakty: “For me, it’s more important to have peace around me, take care of simple pleasures and spend time with my loved ones. I’m an introvert, and if I did more, I would feel very tired.”

Nevertheless, Iga Swiatek has decided to embrace the holiday spirit and let the world know she’s not letting the drama dim her cheer.

Iga Swiatek celebrates Christmas ahead of the 2025 season

The World No.2 shared a cheerful Christmas Instagram story five days ago, giving fans a glimpse into her downtime in the picturesque city of Gdańsk. She showed her viewers the lit Christmas tree in the town hall of the city. Swiatek also shared a snapshot of herself bundled up in a cozy jacket and scarf. The Polish tennis sensation enjoyed the fried sheep cheese which is a popular street dish in her native country. She captioned it with a lighthearted “Day off hehe“. But it’s not all fun and games.

Swiatek is gearing up to return to the court at the World Tennis League, kicking off today. She was last seen at the Billie Jean King Cup last month. World number two secured back-to-back wins to lead Poland into their first BJK Cup semi-finals, with a comeback victory over the Czech Republic. The five time Grand Slam winner later shared her excitement for the 2025 season. She said, “I’m going to start the new season with some new goals, and I’m already looking forward to it.”

Amid all the doping drama, Swiatek’s Christmas stroll felt like a moment of calm before the storm. Now, it’s time to see her back in action at the World Tennis League exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi—followed by her appearance in Australia—because nothing says “unbothered” like letting your game do the talking!