Iga Swiatek's psychologist Daria Abramowicz backs Andy Roddick’s words of support as Pole breaks down in tears after French Open win over Naomi Osaka
Iga Swiatek’s sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz backed Andy Roddick’s support for the Polish star after the World No.1 won her 2024 French Open second-round match against Naomi Osaka. On Wednesday, Swiatek had to fight out of her skin at Philippe-Chatrier in a match that lasted nearly three hours. Eventually, she won the match 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5.
After the match, a video went viral where Swiatek can be seen crying inconsolably. She was seen lying down and wiping her tears with her hands on face. Andy Roddick, a former US Open champion, lauded Swiatek for being a “champion” after she survived the massive scare from Osaka, who did not throw in the towel at any stage of the match.
“Try to tell me Iga does not care. This was a second-round match at a tournament she has already won three times. This is sports. You fight, you survive, and then you become human again. Rinse, repeat. This woman is a champion... and human,” Roddick wrote on X.
The World No. 1's psychologist Daria Abramowicz shared an emoticon replying to Roddick’s post.
During the on-court interview after the match, Swiatek had also requested the crowd to support her during rallies instead of making noises and distracting her.
“I have huge respect for you guys and I know we are playing for you but sometimes under a lot of pressure when you scream something during the rally it’s really hard to be focused. I usually do not bring this up because I want to be a player that’s in the zone and focused.
But this is serious for us. We are fighting our whole lives to be better and better. Sometimes it is hard to accept that. The stakes are big. There is a lot of money to win. Losing a few points may change a lot,” Swiatek said.
Iga Swiatek saved a match point to beat Osaka
Iga Swiatek had to work hard in the first set before she won the tie-breaker. Osaka won the second to force a decider. In the third set, Swiatek went 0-3 down, finding herself under immense pressure against an aggressive Osaka.
Just when it seemed that Osaka would dictate the terms and knock Swiatek out of the competition in the second round itself, the latter rose like a phoenix from ashes. The top-ranked player had to save a match point in the third set before she won.
After taking down the 4-time Grand Slam champion in a thriller, Iga Swiatek will next face Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova in the third round of the 2024 French Open on 31 May.