Five-time major champion Iga Swiatek is receiving increased security protection after being verbally abused by an “aggressive and taunting” fan at the Miami Open.
The world number two was targeted during a practice session on Saturday.
Tournament organisers and the WTA have implemented extra security measures around the 23-year-old Polish star.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of female athletes at sporting events.
Iga Swiatek was abused by an ‘aggressive’ fan at the Miami Open
Reuters
The man is believed to have shouted personal insults about Swiatek’s family during the confrontation.
According to Swiatek’s representatives, this was not an isolated incident, as the same individual had previously sent abusive messages to her on social media.
“The Miami incident appears to be a direct transition from verbal aggression online to harassment in the real world,” Swiatek’s team told BBC Sport.
“He was aggressive and taunting,” they added. The incident was immediately reported to tournament organisers.
“Security is a top priority. We monitor the network to catch these types of issues,” Swiatek’s spokesperson said.
“Constructive criticism is one thing, and threats, hate speech or even disturbance during training is another – this cannot be condoned.”
Miami Open organisers told AFP they treat the safety and security of everyone at the tournament “extremely seriously”.
“We constantly evaluate any potential threats and take every measure to respond appropriately,” they said.
Both tournament officials and the WTA are said to have reacted quickly to the incident.
Swiatek’s experience comes just a month after Britain’s Emma Raducanu was targeted by a stalker at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Iga Swiatek will receive extra security after the fan incident
PA
Raducanu, 22, recoiled in horror when she spotted a man in the stands who she had already reported for “exhibiting fixated behaviour”.
The individual was later given a restraining order and banned from all future WTA events pending an investigation.
Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of the Women in Sport charity, told BBC Sport that “every single woman has a level of fear”.
Despite the unsettling incident, Swiatek has not allowed it to affect her performance at the Miami Open.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Emma Raducanu was recently reduced to tears while playing at the Dubai Tennis ChampionshipsX
The second seed has continued her impressive run in the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals without dropping a set.
She has dispatched Elise Mertens and Elina Svitolina in straight sets since the incident occurred.
Swiatek is scheduled to face Filipino teenager Alexandra Eala in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Polish star is aiming to lift the Miami Open title for the second time in her career.
