Frustrated Iga Swiatek claps back at media ahead of Italian Open

Four-time French Open champion Swiatek has established herself as the 'Queen of Clay' over the last few years, with her dominance on the surface ensuring she has been the player to beat at Roland Garros over the last few years.

Yet she was beaten by Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart Open and then served up some uncharacteristic clay court performances as she tried to defend the Madrid Open title.

Swiatek lost the first set of her quarter-final against Madison Keys 6-0 in Madrid and while she did well to battle back in the match, her 6-1, 6-1 semi-final defeat against Coco Gauff was an eye-catching scoreline.

That was followed by reports in the Polish media claiming Swiatek may be preparing to take a break from tennis, but those stories have now been dismissed the 23-year-old as she prepares to return to action at the Italian Open.

Swiatek's status as one of the biggest stars in her nation should ensure she gets positive media attention, but she has suggested on more than one occasion over the last couple of years that she feels the tone of the comments around her are all negative, especially from sections of her own Polish media.

That sparked her decision to release a long statement on Instagram pleading with the media to understand the struggles she is going through in a year that saw her post a positive doping test and lose her status as the world No 1 to Aryna Sabalenka.

While the doping test was confirmed to be a case of contamination of a sleeping product, stories about Swiatek's private life have continued to cause the young star distress and with her form on court now also looking uncertain, the latest batch of misleading stories have clearly left her frustrated.

One last weekend suggested she may be preparing to take a break from tennis and would not be playing at Wimbledon in July, but the Polish star has insisted she is not planning to skip the grass court season.

"You shouldn't believe this stuff. I don't get it," she said when asked about the idea that she may not play the grass court season after Roland Garros.

"There are so many theories right now, I would say, especially in Polish media about me that are not true. I think, I don't know, you guys like to make some articles that will attract people. I get it. It's part of the job.

"For sure, I'm not going to skip Wimbledon. I really want to learn how to play on grass better. Every year is another opportunity. I will play Wimbledon, for sure, unless I get injured."

Swiatek also gave her verdict on the heavy defeat against Coco Gauff, after ity was confirmed her preparations for the event in Madrid were interrupted by a quick return back to Poland to attend the funeral of her grandfather.

"I didn't have a proper rest after Stuttgart and every day in Madrid, I felt like I just wanted a normal day off," she added.

"The match with Coco, for sure, wasn't good. I had trouble focusing, I was not moving well. That is why the scoreline was like that.

"It's just one day. You can't judge everything by it. I trust the process and go on to the next one.

"On these clay court tournaments, I only remember the good stuff from last year. My head only remembers the good stuff.

"I am making some decisions, at the moment, that are not good. I assume the ball will go in and then it doesn't, so I am confused.

"With the way I have been playing, I feel like I am close to doing good results. I just have to push a little bit more.

"When you just go out on court and you hope that you are going to play better than you can that day, you are always going to be disappointed. I am working that now."

The best answer Swiatek can give to her critics is to rediscover her winning form on clay over the next few weeks and if she wins a remarkable fifth title at Roland Garros, the so-called Iga crisis will be over before it started.

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