Iga Swiatek Credits Psychologist For Helping Her Escape 'Money Hole'
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Daria Abramowicz, Iga Swiatek's psychologist, is one of the most essential members of the Pole's team. The former WTA world No. 1 recently appeared on a podcast and discussed her influence.
Swiatek has worked with Abramowicz since 2019. They have developed a close bond, and the 23-year-old relies heavily on the psychologist to help her through challenging moments throughout the tennis season.
The closeness between the pair is demonstrated by Abramowicz getting a tattoo that includes the date Swiatek won her bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. This is similar to Stefano Vukov's getting a tattoo after Elena Rybakina won the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
Abramowicz probably became used to helping Swiatek with her mindset for competing on-court, but she would not have expected the five-time Grand Slam champion to test positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine.
Swiatek accepted a one-month suspension that was announced on November 28th, most of which the reigning French Open winner served provisionally. She avoided a more extended punishment after proving melatonin tablets were contaminated with trimetazidine.
It is very likely that Swiatek sought Abramowicz's help during one of the most challenging moments of her life. The shortness of her ban meant Swiatek freely returned in the opening week of the WTA season at the United Cup.
That experience might have put things into perspective for the world No. 2. Despite taking the trimetazidine accidentally, Swiatek might have received a lengthy ban if she did not prove the melatonin tablets she bought were contaminated.
There are many financial incentives available for top athletes like Swiatek. Last year, she was one of the highest-paid tennis players in the world, although her total was below Coco Gauff's, the highest-paid female athlete in 2024.
Her doping saga may have reinforced how much Swiatek loves tennis as a sport. During a recent appearance on Caroline Garcia's Tennis Insider Club Podcast, the four-time French Open champion admitted she used to focus too much on financial rewards.
Swiatek discussed Abramowicz's role in changing that mindset and finding a healthier balance, which has helped her become the statistically most successful WTA player since becoming world No. 1 for the first time in April 2022.
"Daria kind of saw that she knew that she wanted me to kind of figure it out on my own, but then I actually like didn't. I just went to this hole of like thinking about money and sponsors and everything."
"After some time where she saw that I'm not doing anything to, to change it, she kind of showed me like, 'Hey, this is not a good way to go. And this is not the only success you're going to have in your life.' So I kind of refocused, and I could continue working on court rather than behind the laptop."
Swiatek will need a strong mindset this year because of the questions she will receive about her doping case. In the opening week of the season, the Pole already caused further controversy by taking a medical timeout against Coco Gauff despite not being injured.
