Iga Świątek has taken a stand against the wave of abusive messages she received following her exit at the 2025 China Open. A day after falling to American Emma Navarro in the Round of 16, the World No. 2 posted screenshots of the harassment on social media, exposing how fans and bettors turned their frustrations into hateful online comments.
Her decision to call out the behavior ignited a strong reaction across social media, where supporters defended the six-time Grand Slam champion and condemned the abuse.
How Did Iga Świątek’s China Open Campaign Unravel Before Her Exit?
After comfortably defeating home favorite Yue Yuan 6-0, 6-3 in the second round and advancing past Camila Osorio when the Colombian retired with an abdominal injury, she struggled against Navarro, committing 70 unforced errors in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 defeat.
What followed was a flood of negativity on social media, much of it tied to disappointed bettors and disgruntled fans. In her Instagram story, Świątek acknowledged that such trolling has unfortunately become a fixture in sports, but she reminded her audience to consider athletes’ mental health, especially with World Mental Health Day approaching on October 10.
“Nowadays, this is a sad part of our reality in sports. Bots, betting, but also ‘fans.’ It is worth considering, especially since World Mental Health Day is just a few days away,” she wrote.
iga świątek | IG stories pic.twitter.com/bF0lvKWoNX
— iga archive ✦ (@igaswiarchive) October 2, 2025
Fans on X quickly rallied around her latest post, voicing their anger at the way players are treated after defeats. One supporter wrote, “i don’t understand people hating on players when they lose like trust me she’s more disappointed than you are, that’s HER loss and it’s HER career so shut up and do smth with your life.”
i don’t understand people hating on players when they lose like trust me she’s more disappointed than you are, that’s HER loss and it’s HER career so shut up and do smth with your life https://t.co/O2Pic4eYct
— tatiana ☆ (@tatiana_gmrs) October 2, 2025
Another added, “all her ‘fans’ who’ve done nothing but talk shit about her in the last 24 hours are going to hell.”
all her “fans” who’ve done nothing but talk shit about her in the last 24 hours are going to hell https://t.co/Ae1HSqlVH0
— mary (@essereleclerc) October 2, 2025
The flood of reactions reflected both outrage at the abuse and admiration for Świątek’s willingness to address it. “these kind of people are sick in the head,” one user posted.
these kind of people are sick in the head https://t.co/R4ml964CWs
— Allison (@itslexaagain) October 2, 2025
Another cheered her decision to speak up, writing, “Yes get them Iga!!! These sick ppl need therapy.”
Yes get them Iga!!! These sick ppl need therapy. https://t.co/l6hvhWhgxJ
— Jaime Lannistarth (@j_lannistarth) October 2, 2025
Fans also expressed sadness that athletes like Świątek are forced to see such negativity firsthand. “This is soooo bad and unthinkable! Who these people are? I am sorry for Iga and all players who are exposed to this ignorance and offensive comments. So bad!” one comment read.
Others highlighted the importance of visibility, with one user noting, “I love that she’s doing this! taking a page out of eva lys’ book, as she should. this is so disgusting and deplorable, it makes me sad that she sees these.”
Another supporter summed up the frustration felt by many: “The lack of respect/morals some people have, harassing and BULLYING someone for not getting what YOU want is disgusting, I’m glad Iga’s calling them out but it’s unfortunate as I don’t think much will change from it. It’s just sad knowing she sees all of this…”
How Has Świątek Dealt With Trolling Throughout Her Career?
The incident highlights a troubling pattern in Świątek’s career. She has faced repeated online abuse throughout her career, especially after losing sets or withdrawing from events. She first addressed the issue strongly in 2023 after her win over Zheng Qinwen at the Cincinnati Open, where she revealed the “ridiculous” amount of hate she receives online, often just for losing a set.
MORE: Iga Świątek Reveals What Really Happened in Loss Against Emma Navarro in Beijing
In 2025, the problem escalated further when a man who had previously sent her abusive messages confronted her during a practice session at the Miami Open, prompting increased security measures.
Świątek has since urged tennis authorities and social platforms to implement stronger protections, including AI-powered moderation tools, to safeguard athletes from harassment.
