Iga Swiatek slammed for “shitty” distraction tactic after San Diego

Caitlin Thompson, co-founder of the Racquet Mag, called out Iga Swiatek’s habit of waving hands during some of the net shots pulled off by her opponents.

“Listen I like Iga, but waving your arms to distract your opponents while they’re hitting is shitty and she keeps doing it,” Thompson wrote on Twitter.

Listen I like Iga, but waving your arms to distract your opponents while they’re hitting is shitty and she keeps doing it

— Caitlin (@caitlin_thomps) October 17, 2022

Other fans were disturbed by Swiatek’s habit as well.

“If a player I was coaching did that, I would bench him/her,” a fan tweeted.

Yet, some fans blamed Thompson for impartiality. “You’re not really an Iga fan, which is clear from your podcast. And you don’t mind/tweet about Paula throwing her racquet, or Emma’s MTOs, or Bianca’s dramatics, only Iga’s movement? How about tweeting about her success for a change,” a fan replied to Caitlin.

Swiatek apologized for waving hands

Iga Swiatek tried to distract Donna Vekic using her hands in the San Diego final that she recently won in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-0). After her win, Swiatek apologized for her behavior.

“This is the best prize/trophy ever! Thank you San Diego for an amazing (cloudy😥) week and this unique vibe. I love it here. And congrats @donnavekic for your amazing run! And sorry for waving my hands at the net,” said Swiatek on Instagram after winning San Diego.

Swiatek used her distraction strategy at this year’s US Open as well. Here is a video of her doing it in the final against Ons Jabeur.

John McEnroe also weighed in on Swiatek’s distraction tactic.

“I don’t know about that. I don’t think that’s legal… that is a little bit below the belt,” he said. “The last time I saw that was when I was playing in 1986 I believe and [Mansour] Bahrami came in and served, and put his hands wide open and said, ‘Hit me’. And my partner Peter Fleming hit him in the forehead. And I said, ‘He’s a joke, this guy! I don’t understand what he’s doing. This is serious.’ And Bahrami was like ‘Good shot Peter, good shot!’ He loved it. I don’t think Świątek has to do that. She’s so good it seems… but she’ll learn. She’s 21.”