After every cloudy day, the sun eventually shines through—a sentiment that perfectly captures the former WTA number one Iga Swiatek’s recent journey. Having overcome a doping controversy, Swiatek now looks ahead to a fresh season – at the United Cup tournament with hopes of securing the trophy. As she is past controversies, the Polish star is reflecting on the process of judgment, expressing her faith in the system that ultimately upheld Swiatek’s integrity.

Swiatek’s failure at a regular doping test landed her in suspension for a month. She tested positive for Trimetazidine which entered her system through contaminated melatonin. This Polish WTA star issued a clarification on her IG profile, where she said, “It was a blow for me, I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious.“Given Swiatek’s introverted nature, she was truly impacted by this ordeal. However, the fraternity accepted Swiatek’s side of the story and extended their support to help the Polish player regain her confidence. Now, Swiatek is preparing for the 2025 United Cup to bring glory to her country. In a recent press conference before her first match in the 2025 season, she talked about her doping fiasco and WADA’s appeal.

“Oh, WADA appeal. Sorry, I didn’t hear,” she began by apologizing for missing out on the question’s important aspect. Then she said, “I don’t think there is any reason, because I didn’t play three tournaments. I was suspended for a long time, and I lost No. 1, you know, because of that. I also know how the procedure worked, and I gave every possible evidence and there is not much, honestly, to do more. So I don’t know, there is no point to do an appeal.” Despite that, Swiatek confessed the process of judgment was abstract and at times becomes hard when the situation is examined from a perspective outside law. However, the Polish star is still anxious because she is clueless about what might happen next.

“I can say from the processes that I went through and how they treated me from the beginning, that it seemed fair for me. I managed to give the source pretty quickly. That’s why the case closed, you know, pretty quickly,” she said. Her defense took a silent dig at the questions that believed she was treated differently than other players like Simona Halep in terms of doping issues. She concluded by revealing her satisfaction with the entire process. ” I didn’t play tournaments, and I kind of, I got a fine, small one, symbolic one, but it’s over now. So I guess, in my opinion, it was a fair process, and I trust ITIA that any case they do, they’re going to treat every player the same way and fairly,” said Swiatek.

Although Swiatek seemed confident about ITIA, Romanian player Simona Halep dropped a different opinion. Speaking about it on Instagram, Halep expressed complete dissatisfaction about how ITIA treated her case raising a sly hint at partial treatment towards Swiatek’s case.

Simona Halep expresses frustration over ITIA’s partial treatment of Iga Swiatek compared to her doping ordeal

Like Iga Swiatek, Halep tested positive for Roxadustat during the 2023 US Open. However, she was suspended for four years (later reduced to nine months) compared to Swaitek who was barred from professional tours for a month. Reflecting on the different treatment of ITIA towards her and Swiatek, the Romanian player wrote, “I sit and try to understand but it is really impossible for me to understand something like this. I sit and wonder, Why such a big difference in treatment and judgment?  can’t find, and I don’t think there can be a logical answer. It can only be bad will on the part of ITIA, the organisation that did absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence.”   Halep didn’t take any names but it was clear that she was hinting at Swiatek who also failed her doping test in August.

However, Halep’s criticism was direct for ITIA. She said, “I have always believed in good, I have believed in the fairness of this sport, I have believed in kindness. The injustice that was done to me was painful, is painful and maybe will always be painful. How is it possible that in identical cases that happened at about the same time (of the season), ITIA has completely different approaches, to my detriment?”

Iga Swiatek’s response showcased her renewed confidence and spirit. After the doping challenges, she finally reclaimed her motivation and now it seems like she will drop an impressive performance this season. Do you think Swiatek can show her brilliance again?