World number two tennis player Swiatek harassed by man during practice session

Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Miami Open. Photo by Reuters

According to Swiatek, the man repeatedly shouted at her from the stands, targeting her mother with vulgar and personal remarks that made it impossible for the Polish star to focus on training.

Security personnel at the Miami Open confirmed that the individual, a man in his 40s, had been using offensive language and mocking Swiatek’s relationship with her mother. Witnesses reported him shouting: "Hey Iga, call your mother. Iga, when are you going to make up with your mother?"

According to Express Sport, this man has been seen at multiple tournaments in recent years, often attempting to provoke the 22-year-old.

The harassment reportedly escalated when the man insulted Swiatek’s sports psychologist, calling him a "trained dog," before finally being escorted away by security.

Swiatek’s PR team confirmed the incident was reported to the WTA and tournament organizers. Both parties responded by increasing security measures around the player.

"Player safety is our top priority. The WTA works closely with tournaments and their security teams on best practices for international sporting events to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants," a WTA spokesperson said in a statement.

Despite the upsetting experience, Swiatek advanced to the fourth round in Miami before being defeated by rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines in the quarterfinals. It marked a continuing string of hard-court struggles for Swiatek, who also suffered defeats to Mirra Andreeva in Dubai and Jelena Ostapenko in Doha, as well as a semifinal loss to Madison Keys at the Australian Open.

The incident echoes a recent case involving Canada’s Grand Slam champion Emma Raducanu, who was followed and harassed by a man across three countries. The man was removed from the stands during a match in Dubai and subsequently issued a lifetime ban from WTA events.