Women’s World No.1 Iga Swiatek has been forced to apologise over a questionable act that has sparked backlash across the tennis world.
Swiatek collected a staggering eighth title of the year after a 6-3 3-6 6-0 win over Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the San Diego Open final.
However, the victory has been overshadowed by an unsavoury incident that has seen fans accuse the Polish star of “cheating” and being “unsportsmanlike”.
The controversial moment came at break point in the sixth game of the second set when Swiatek waived her arms in the air at the net in an apparent attempt to distract her opponent.
Vekic went on to win the rally after smashing a cross-court backhand winner to open up a 4-2 lead, but the incident did not go unnoticed by viewers.
Some fans claimed the World No.1 had form when it came to using the controversial tactic against her opponents, as the World No.1 faced the wrath of the tennis world on social media.
“Listen I like Iga, but waving your arms to distract your opponents while they’re hitting is sh*tty and she keeps doing it,” tennis journalist Caitlin Thompson wrote.
Other fans went as far as describing Swiatek’s actions as “cheating”.
Swiatek is the best in the world; there is no doubt. And oddly enough, one of the biggest cheats on tour. Disgusting
