Iga Swiatek’s love for her family stood front and centre! The Pole just lifted her third title of the 2025 season at the Korea Open, beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in a gritty final. It was a tough battle between the top two seeds, and despite dropping the first set, Swiatek showed her resilience. She roared back to seal a 1-6, 7-6, 7-5 win! But unlike most finals, she didn’t have her full team or her dad, Tomasz Swiatek, in the stands. That didn’t stop her from cracking a witty joke and leaving a hopeful note for next time.
After outlasting the Russian, Swiatek couldn’t help but acknowledge the support around her. The match had been hard fought, and for her, gratitude mattered. Before signing off on her trophy speech, she made sure to say it all: “I also want to thank my sponsors and everyone who is supporting me.” But the 23-year-old didn’t end it there, as she took a playful dig at those closest to her!
She added, “My team, who’s part of the team who’s still in Poland and resting, and my family as well. I’m happy that I could win her because of the family history, my dad couldn’t the Olympics, but at least I won this tournament. So, hopefully he’s gonna come next year to enjoy everything.” It wasn’t untrue, but it was a cheeky take at her father’s expense.
For those unfamiliar, Iga Swiatek’s father is a former Polish Olympic rower. He competed in the men’s quadruple sculls at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, finishing seventh. Tomasz also won gold at the 1987 Universiade and represented the famed AZS Warsaw sports club. Beyond rowing, he was Iga’s first coach, guiding her introduction to sport and setting the foundation for her tennis career. He stepped back from coaching in 2024, choosing instead to cheer her on as a proud parent from the sidelines.