Iga Swiatek has 11-word comment after Miami Open | Sports News

Iga Swiatek couldn’t help however poke enjoyable at umpire Marija Cicak after receiving a time violation warning whereas competing on the Miami Open.

On Monday, Swiatek fended off Elina Svitolina in a back-and-forth match that featured no scarcity of momentum shifts, finally beating the Ukrainian 7-6(5), 6-3. Yet on the heels of the hotly contested battle, the World No. 2 was all smiles whereas directing a playful jab at Cicak, who she’s had no scarcity of run-ins with over time.

Upon dropping a level whereas serving for the match, Swiatek appeared to take her time in between serves with a view to regain her composure and settle her nerves. Sure enough, she promptly obtained a time violation warning from Cicak – however was capable of nonetheless put the ending touches on her up-and-down efficiency.

Following the match, Swiatek approached Cicak’s chair and quipped: “I virtually thought I’m not getting a time violation from you.” She proceeded to jokingly snap her finger before walking off and acknowledging the sparse crowd still gathered at Hard Rock Stadium.

This is hardly the first time that Swiatek and Cicak have butted heads. At the 2023 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the official issued her a time violation on match point because she had her back turned to the court and was not prepared to receive a serve from Marketa Vondrousova.

Following the match, Swiatek and Cicak exchanged several heated words regarding the violation. “It is not your time” the latter said. “You were stood there for another five to seven seconds for no reason and you can at least turn around.”

Addressing the incident during a post-match press conference, Swiatek asserted that there was no bad blood between her and Cicak. “No, no, I wouldn’t say ‘tension,’” she began. “I respect Marija Cicak, she’s a great umpire. But overall she’s really strict with the rules and she’s applying them always, looking at even, like, one second and everything.

“Yeah, last two games, we played some longer rallies so I felt, like, I need time to just catch my breath, but Marketa didn’t really let me do that. We have, what, 23 or 25 seconds?”

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Swiatek has once again found herself at the center of controversy in recent weeks after her outburst at Indian Wells drew the ire of fans. While facing off against Mirra Andreeva, who eventually upset her in the semi-final match, the 23-year-old fired a ball into the ground – almost clipping a close by ball child within the course of.

Taking to social media, Swiatek apologized for failing to control her feelings – asserting that she meant no hurt to the ballboy. “I expressed frustration in a means I’m not proud of,” she conceded. “My intention was by no means to intention the ball at anybody however merely to release my frustration by bouncing it on the ground.

“I immediately apologized to the ball boy, we made eye contact and nodded to each other when I expressed regret that it happened near him. I’ve seen many players bounce balls in frustration, and frankly, I didn’t expect such harsh judgements. Usually, I control such impulses, so half-jokingly I can say I lack experience in this and misjudged my aim in the heat of the moment.”