'Women Are Judged More Harshly': Swiatek On Showing Emotions On Court

Thursday, 23 November 2023 at 08:30

bySebastian Dahlman

Iga Swiatek is not a fan of how women are judged more harshly when they show emotion on the court compared to men.

Tennis is not immune to double standards, much like anything in life. When it comes to showing emotions, there is certainly a double standard between men and women. Men's emotions are generally interpreted as showing passion, while women's emotions are generally perceived as a lack of self-control.

Iga Swiatek knows that best, as a crying episode on the court from 2021 is still something she gets asked about. Now, during a recent interview with Sportowe Fakty, the recent WTA Finals champion spoke about her emotions.

Journalists often ask me about the 2021 WTA Finals in Guadalajara. It's not good when your emotions prevent you from continuing to play or perform your best tennis. Sometimes people don't understand that a player also has the right to emotions

It's much harder for athletes to forgive them. That's why I felt ashamed after Guadalajara. Today I believe that we should not be like rocks. If I pretended to be indestructible, I would be distorting reality. I prefer to show my real face.

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There was a lot of talk about Swiatek being able to handle competing on the WTA Tour at that time. Two years after that, very few doubt that she actually could; having won four Grand Slams and spent a lot of time as number one.

It's a double standard because showing emotions painted her as weak, as opposed to passionate.

Women are judged more harshly, as if we had no control over our emotions at all. During the ATP Finals, we saw that men also react differently on the court, sometimes they are aggressive, sometimes they also cry. However, in men's tennis it is accepted and interpreted as a passion that leads to success.

Meanwhile, I read again this season that I sometimes lose control over my emotions. That "Swiątek is over", that "her career is over". I cannot understand such opinions. Some people are very guided by gender stereotypes.