Daniela Hantuchova Criticizes Iga Swiatek Over Madrid Open Demands

Former world No. 5 tennis player Daniela Hantuchova has raised sharp criticisms against Iga Swiatek and her team, detailing friction during the Madrid Open when a widespread power outage disrupted tournament operations, tennisnet.com reported.

Power Outage Demands and Unwashed Laundry

The disputes unfolded against the backdrop of an April 28, 2025, power outage that crippled parts of Spain and complicated logistics at the Madrid Open. While tournament organizers scrambled to maintain player provisions, Hantuchova—then working as a player liaison in Madrid—recounted on a Canal Plus podcast that Swiatek’s mental coach, Daria Abramowicz, demanded warm chicken on the morning of the blackout while electricity remained cut off. Hantuchova responded sarcastically that the coach might try starting a fire on a stone for the team, just hours before Swiatek was scheduled to face Diana Shnaider.

Hantuchova also described a second uncomfortable encounter where the Polish star allegedly handed her personal unwashed clothing and asked what she should do with it. While Hantuchova noted that the interaction left her surprised by a top-ranked player outsourcing such a task to a tournament liaison, she ultimately took care of the clothes. The accounts feed into broader criticisms from Hantuchova regarding what she perceives as a lack of basic accountability and consideration from elite players toward behind-the-scenes staff.

Commercial Obligations and Broader Tour Friction

Beyond specific player requests, Hantuchova addressed broader industry dynamics, arguing that some top female competitors show reluctance toward sponsor meetings and business engagements that help fund high prize pools. According to Hantuchova, those commercial appearances form a necessary part of the sport’s ecosystem. “They want to earn more and believe they don’t have to do anything for tennis,” she stated on the podcast.

Tournament administration at the Madrid Open has faced independent criticism previously, most notably in 2023 when women’s doubles finalists Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Victoria Azarenka, and Beatriz Haddad Maia were blocked from addressing the crowd during the trophy ceremony. Following widespread backlash over that incident, tournament management issued an official apology. Swiatek has not released a public statement addressing Hantuchova’s specific podcast remarks.

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