World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has opened up about a disturbing security incident during the Miami Open that saw an aggressive fan allegedly attempt to disrupt her during a training session — just weeks after online threats had surfaced.
The chilling episode unfolded in the middle of what should have been a routine practice. Instead, Swiatek found herself targeted by a man who her team described as “aggressive and taunting.” His actions appeared to be a frightening escalation — moving from verbal abuse online to real-life harassment.
“The Miami incident appears to be a direct transition from verbal aggression online to harassment in the real world,” her team told BBC Sport.
Security around the five-time Grand Slam champion was immediately tightened for the remainder of the tournament. And while Swiatek didn’t go into full detail, she acknowledged the unsettling nature of the encounter.
“I wouldn’t call it a threat because it wasn’t so harsh,” Swiatek said, speaking ahead of her return at the Stuttgart Open. “There was a fan who wanted to disrupt my rhythm. Obviously, when you hear something like that, you want to react.”
Swiatek was quick to praise the WTA for stepping in quickly and decisively.
“The WTA helped me to feel protected,” she said. “What I heard wasn’t a threat, but I think there were some threats on the internet. I’m glad there is someone watching over us and helping us react in these kinds of situations.”
The WTA responded with a firm statement reinforcing their zero-tolerance stance on player safety breaches:
“Player safety is our top priority,” the WTA said. “We work closely with tournament security teams to ensure that incidents are handled promptly and effectively… There are comprehensive security protocols in place, though we don’t disclose those publicly.”
This comes not long after a separate incident involving Emma Raducanu, whose harasser was issued a restraining order following “fixated behavior” at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Swiatek, who hasn’t played since her quarter-final loss in Miami, skipped the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers for Poland but is set to return to competition in Stuttgart on Tuesday. For now, her message is clear: fan support is appreciated — but boundaries matter.
And thanks to swift intervention by the WTA and her inner circle, Swiatek can shift focus back where it belongs — on the court.
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