After coming through a tough second round win at the US Open, things got a bit heated during Iga Swiatek’s press conference.
The world No.2 answered a series of questions in English, with the majority focusing on her latest performance in New York. Then, speaking to reporters in her native Polish, she took exception to one question. In a video that is doing the rounds on social media, a journalist was heard asking the reigning Wimbledon champion if she ever considered getting beads in her hair.
Visibly annoyed by the question, Swiatek responded, “What kind of question is that? No…what is going on here, what sort of question is that?”
The unusual question was asked by Tomek Moczerniuk, who works for Przeglad Sportowy. Taking to social media, Moczerniuk explained that his question to the tennis player was if she had considered doing something ‘shocking’, such as changing her hairstyle whilst in New York. His aim was to lighten the mood after a tense ending to the English section of the press conference.
Swiatek was asked about race and double standards among women in tennis and sports at large. The moderator then tried to end the English questions before the reporter insisted he follow up on what he asked. Unfairly put in a tough spot, Swiatek explained she isn’t in a position to speak about sports and race as she is only associated with tennis. Although she said ‘the world changed throughout the years, and I know there has been some issue yesterday.’ This issue was a confrontation between Jelena Ostapenko and Taylor Townsend. Ostapenko was accused online of being racist, but has categorically denied those allegations.
“The conversation with Iga got a bit out of hand. Unfortunately, I got caught in the crossfire because she didn’t like that I asked if—since New Yorkers like a show—she had ever thought about lightly shocking them, for example, by weaving beads into her hair,” Moczerniuk wrote in Polish on his X account.
“You need to understand the whole context. The end of the conference was tense, and I wanted to lighten the mood a bit and ask a casual, relaxed question. But it turned out as it did, and I can’t turn back time. I’ll apologize to I Juno at the earliest opportunity.” He added.
Swiatek will play Anna Kalinskaya in the third round later this week.
