Polish star Iga Świątek not only endured a challenging second-round match at the US Open and faced an awkward media interaction afterward. A few questions caught her off guard, leaving her visibly uncomfortable during what should have been a routine press conference.
One question in particular touched on the verbal exchange between home favorite Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko following their second-round match. It also raised the question of whether there were double standards in the sport depending on Black American players. The uncomfortable moment highlighted how players can field questions far beyond their match performance.
How Did Iga Świątek Respond to the Taylor Townsend-Jelena Ostapenko US Open Controversy?
Świątek overcame Suzan Lamens in a hard-fought second-round match at the 2025 US Open, but her challenges didn’t end when she left the court. During what initially seemed like a routine press conference, things turned awkward when she was asked about the heated exchange between Ostapenko and Townsend.
After Townsend got the better of Ostapenko this Wednesday, the Latvian reacted poorly at the net, claiming her opponent showed no class or education. Townsend brushed it off with a laugh during her press conference, while Ostapenko faced and denied accusations of racism.
In the wake of that incident, a reporter asked Świątek whether there appeared to be double standards in tennis and women’s sports affecting African American players. The world No. 2, however, gave a careful answer, emphasizing her limited expertise and focus on tennis while avoiding broad statements about other sports.
“I can’t speak about every sport, because I don’t have enough knowledge, you know. We’re in this environment, we’re in the tennis world, we’re thinking about tennis mostly,” she said.
Iga getting asked about yesterday’s drama and “what it says about women’s sports”
byu/Federal-tortuga intennis
Świątek acknowledged that the world has changed over the years, but explained she hadn’t caught up on the incident because of her early match. The Polish star clarified that the tennis community shouldn’t be judged based on one person’s behavior.
“But, you know, I think obviously the world’s changed throughout the years, and I know that there has been some issue yesterday, but honestly, I was so focused, I had an early match, so I wasn’t really, I’m not caught up on that. I’m probably going to catch up today. But you can’t really judge from the behavior of one person the whole community.”
What Made Iga Świątek Uncomfortable During Her US Open Press Conference?
What further frustrated Świątek was a follow-up question from the same reporter. The moderator initially blocked the question, but the reporter continued asking nonetheless.
“Do you see that there is a double standard when it comes to women’s sports in terms of how you reacted or acted?”
Clearly pestered at this point, Świątek honestly admitted she can’t speak for all women’s sports, as she’s only experienced tennis. She suggested consulting experts or those with broader experience across different sports for that kind of insight.
“I can’t speak about the whole of women’s sports. I’m a tennis player. I’m, like, 24. I haven’t been playing soccer, I haven’t been playing, I don’t know, basketball. I don’t know how it is in all women’s sports. You have to ask someone experienced. Probably some people that have been working in different sports.”
Świątek appeared to handle the initial question calmly but grew visibly uncomfortable when further pressed on topics beyond her expertise. Regardless, she quickly refocused on winning a seventh Grand Slam, preparing to face Anna Kalinskaya in the third round.