Who is Iga Swiatek’s psychologist? Daria Abramowicz – who the Pole credits for making her ‘smarter’
Sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz has been an integral figure in Iga Swiatek’s career and she is an almost ever-present figure in the Pole’s players’ box.
Swiatek is the most successful player of her generation, having won 22 WTA singles titles, including five Grand Slams (four French Opens and one US Open).
The 24-year-old has spent 125 weeks as the world No 1, which is the seventh-highest tally in WTA Tour history.
Iga Swiatek’s psychologist Daria Abramowicz
Abramowicz was born in Ilawa, a town in Northern Poland, on 10 October 1987.
The Pole was a successful junior sailor until her sports playing career ended when she was 18 due to a wrist fracture. After this, Abramowicz pursued a career as a sports psychologist.
She graduated with a degree in psychology from the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw and also achieved a master’s degree in sports psychology from the same university. She also studied at the Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Gdansk.
The 37-year-old began working with Swiatek in February 2019, when the rising tennis star was 17 and ranked just inside the top 150.
On her website, Abramowicz states: “I support the training process and athletic development at various levels. I focus on a holistic approach to a sports career, remembering that athletes are, above all, people.”
Abramowicz has worked with national cycling and swimming teams, as well as other Polish athletes, coaches, and businesspeople. She hosts the Daria Abramowicz Podcast.
According to a 2021 New York Times article, Abramowicz “works with Swiatek much more frequently than usual for the sport.”
In a 2022 interview with Tennis Majors, Abramowicz said of her work with Swiatek: “As far as us, there is a lot of casual talk as well.
“One of the points of my philosophy is that sometimes a chat over dinner or lunch proves to be more effective than the scheduled session. We do have some strict appointments, but casual conversations as well.
“We do a lot of work on court: right before practice or a match, and right after practice or a match. Sometimes it is intense and I communicate very directly, and sometimes Iga takes charge.
“All the time, I am trying to be sensitive, to feel what she needs and to adjust the programme so that it fits her as an individual in the best manner.”
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What has Swiatek said about Abramowicz
During her run to her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2020 French Open, Swiatek credited Abramowicz for making her “smarter.”
“I just believe that mental toughness is probably the most important thing in tennis right now because everybody can play on the highest level,” Swiatek said at a press conference. “But the ones that are tough and that can handle the pressure are the biggest ones.
“So I always wanted to develop in that way. I was working with some other psychologists, two probably when I was younger. But Daria was the best I could get because she just understands me very well and she knows me very well and she can kind of read my mind, which is weird.
“She was a sailor so she has experience in sports and she was a coach, so she has the full package.
“She just made me smarter. I know more about sports and I know more about psychology and I can understand my own feelings and I can say them out loud. She just makes my confidence level higher.”
Why has Abramowicz faced criticism?
Swiatek’s relationship with Abramowicz came under scrutiny earlier this year as the Polish star was criticised for some of her on-court behaviour during a difficult run of form.
The five-time major winner appeared to hit a ball towards her team – close to a ball boy – during her Indian Wells semi-final loss to Mirra Andreeva in March.
Polish sports psychologist Dariusz Nowicki claimed “certain boundaries” between Abramowicz and Swiatek had been crossed and labelled the partnership “disturbed.”
“If we were to look at this relationship only and exclusively from the point of view of strictly psychological workshop, then it is indeed a disturbed relationship, in which certain boundaries of professional distance between the psychologist and the client are crossed,” Nowicki told Interia Sport.
Nowicki went on to warn that Abramowicz could be at risk of “errors of perception” in her judgement due to a lack of distance between her and Swiatek.
“Unfortunately, most errors in perception occur when emotions are aroused,” he continued. “Regardless of whether these are positive or negative emotions, then we make errors in the accuracy of observation.
“A certain psychological distance in relation to the client, who is the athlete, or in general to the training team, which is with the athlete or team, is essential.
“Someone in this group must maintain some common sense and emotional self-control, and the psychologist should be such a person the most.
“While coaches allow themselves to have quite big emotions in starting situations, being a co-participant in this event, a psychologist professionally involved in sports psychology should be able to keep their distance and not get involved in emotions.
“Only then will they be able to function effectively within their professional competencies.”
Speaking to Polish media ahead of the French Open, Swiatek defended Abramowicz.
“Daria is a constant source of support for me, someone I trust,” she said. “In fact, I trust my entire team, and I want people around to know that.
“This is my team – I decide who’s in it. The recent media pressure doesn’t create space for calm and focused work. On the contrary it creates additional, unnecessary stress.”
“Without the work I’ve done with my psychologist and other team members, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s worth remembering that.
“Just because I’ve been reaching semi-finals instead of finals for six months doesn’t mean you can dismiss everything. I value the knowledge and experience of the people I work with but above all, their support, because tennis is a very lonely sport.”
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