Ewa Woydyłło's comments on Iga Świątek trigger media uproar and podcast removal

Psychologist and therapist Ewa Woydyłło appeared on the Trzeci Serwis podcast "Return" hosted by Lech Sidor and made harsh remarks about Polish tennis star Iga Świątek, calling her "probably stupid, scared" and suggesting that her team psychologist Daria Abramowicz is present mainly for money. The interview was published on 3 August 2026 and quickly provoked a wave of criticism on social media and in the press.

The podcast episode was removed from YouTube after the backlash. The producers issued an apology, stating that they had mistakenly assumed the responsibility for the statements lay solely with the guest and acknowledging their own role in the content. Public figures such as Monika Olejnik, former minister Bogdan Zdrojewski, former skier Justyna Kowalczyk‑Tekieli, and psychologist Dorota Zawadzka condemned the remarks as hateful and unprofessional.

In the same period, Świątek won her first match at the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, defeating Sara Bejlek 6‑0, 6‑3, while the controversy continued to dominate media coverage in Poland.