"Maintaining a positive mindset will be key": Martina Navratilova weighs in on Iga Swiatek's Indian Wells outburst

Martina Navratilova commented on Iga Swiatek's outburst at Indian Wells, offering guidance to help her get back on the winning track at the Miami Open. The Polish star found herself at the centre of controversy during her match against Mirra Andreeva at Tennis Paradise after hitting a ball in frustration, nearly striking a ball boy.

Seeing Swiatek this frustrated on court is rare, but her second consecutive defeat against Andreeva seemed to push her patience to the limit. The moment she lashed out after a ball boy handed her the ball caught social media’s attention, prompting the World No. 2 to issue an apology.

“My intention was never to aim the ball at anyone but merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground. I immediately apologised to the ball boy, we made eye contact, and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him,” she wrote on social media.

As Swiatek gears up for the fourth WTA 1000 event of the year, she is still seeking her first title of the season. She failed to defend her crowns in Qatar and Indian Wells, making Miami a crucial opportunity to regain points, especially considering she only reached the Round of 16 last year.

The five-time Grand Slam champion has acknowledged a tough stretch since the second half of last year, with the doping case controversy adding pressure. This seemed to affect her composure in the Indian Wells semi-final against Andreeva. On the matter, former World No. 1 Martina Navratilova stressed the importance of Swiatek regaining emotional control, a trait that once set her apart.

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"She showed moments of frustration and directed some of it toward her team. While it’s unclear what was being said, she’ll need to manage those emotions better, as she can be highly agitated at times,” the 18-time Grand Slam champion commented.

"She seems to be struggling with confidence, which can lead to frustration when things don’t go her way. Her game is still there, but maintaining a positive mindset will be key. But let's not forget, she has been the most successful player overall for the past few years and has won this event,” she concluded.

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Swiatek enters Miami as the second seed and will make her debut between Friday and Saturday against the winner of Anna Bondar (Q) and Caroline Garcia. Interestingly, Garcia was Swiatek’s first opponent at Indian Wells two weeks ago, where she claimed a commanding 6-2, 6-0 victory.

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