“I was scared that most people were going to turn their back on me” – Swiatek appreciates support after positive result

In her first interaction with the media since news of her positive test result became public, five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek said she feared a more negative reaction from fans after news broke out.

The 23-year-old Pole tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine TMZ in August and received a one-month suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency. During the suspension she missed three tournaments in the Asian swing which helped rival Aryna Sabalenka take over the world No 1 ranking.

“I think their response has been more positive than I thought. I think most people are understanding and the ones who read the documents and are aware of how the system works know that I had no fault and I had no influence on what was going on,” Swiatek said during an interaction with the press at the United Cup.

I’m not expecting an appeal, but I have no influence on what’s going to happen.

“Overall the reaction, in Poland basically because this is mostly what I read, has been pretty supportive. I really, really appreciate that, because even when I missed the China swing and nobody knew why, it wasn’t so easy. I was scared that most people were going to turn their back on me. But I felt the support and it’s great. Obviously there are going to be some negative comments and you’re not going to avoid that. I just have to accept that and I don’t really care about those, honestly.”

Now ranked No 2 in the world, Swiatek said she does not expect the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal, as they have done in the case of men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

“I was suspended for a long time and I lost No 1 because of that. I also know how the procedure worked and I gave every possible evidence. There is not much, honestly, to do more. So I’m not expecting an appeal, but I have no influence on what’s going to happen,” Swiatek said.

The four-time French Open champion will play her first official match since the news of her result became public as Poland take on Norway in Group B action of the United Cup on Monday.

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