Andy Roddick has revealed he is “concerned” about Iga Swiatek heading into the start of the 2025 season.
Swiatek begins her season representing Poland at the United Cup, with the world No 2 set to face Malene Helgo of Norway in her first match.
The Pole was unbeaten at the competition a year ago in singles action, winning all five matches as she spearheaded Poland’s charge to the final.
Swiatek heads into this year’s edition of the event having not won a tournament since claiming her fifth Grand Slam title at Roland Garros back in June.
She also starts 2025 with a fairly new coach, having played just two events under the guidance of Wim Fissette following her split from long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski in September.
However, undoubtedly the biggest talking point hanging over Swiatek heading into the new year is the aftermath of her doping case.
Swiatek has recently served a one-month suspension after the International Tennis Integrity Agency found her to be of “no significant fault” after testing positive for TMZ in August 2024.
The five-time major winner responded to questions about her case in Sydney on Friday but will likely be asked about her failed drug test repeatedly over the coming months – including at the Australian Open.
Roddick has been among Swiatek’s chief defenders since news of her doping infraction broke and, speaking on Served with Andy Roddick, revealed “concern” about her ahead of the start of the season.
He said: “My only concern for Iga Swiatek at scale is how she lands in Australia and how she deals with the questions.
“Because what is going to happen is that she is going to give the same answer to the same question for the same day for the next three months.
“Lesser people would become impatient, I certainly would have. She is sensitive, you can see her emote more than Jannik Sinner, who keeps things calm and tight.
“I am just concerned about a coaching change, this news coming out, how she shows up in Australia.”
After her opening match against Helgo in Poland’s tie against Norway on Monday, Swiatek is then set to face Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic on New Year’s Day.
Once her United Cup campaign is over, the world No 2 will head to Melbourne for the first Grand Slam event of the year, which starts on January 12th.
Swiatek is a former semi-final at the Australian Open but has failed to make the last eight in the past two years, and was stunned by Linda Noskova in the third round a year ago.
The aftermath of action in Melbourne will prove a busy spell for the Pole, who will defend her Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros titles across the spring.
