Iga Swiatek has expressed her thoughts on the increasing influence of gambling within the tennis world. She acknowledges that gambling, in various forms, is a thrilling activity for many and seems unlikely to ever disappear.
Among sports, tennis stands out as one of the most popular for betting. With numerous matches held daily across all levels, the rapid changes that can occur during play add to its appeal for gamblers.
In recent years, gambling has woven itself more deeply into the fabric of tennis. Many tournaments have established partnerships with betting companies that support the sport and contribute to player prize money, despite the fact that players cannot have direct sponsorships from these organizations.
While these relationships can provide financial support, they also present significant challenges. Players often face hostility and threats after losing matches, which further complicates the situation.
In light of this, Swiatek, the WTA World No. 2, was asked about gambling in tennis ahead of the 2025 Indian Wells Open. She acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
“Oh, I don’t think I’m ready to answer that question because I never really thought about that much, because I always thought that this is how it is. There’s no point to think if it’s good or bad, because it’s always going to be there since it’s big business,” she said.
Swiatek noted that players are often affected by the negative sentiments stemming from gambling losses. “I think, for sure, the thing that we as players feel is the negative comments and hate, because people are sometimes losing money because we lose or because we win. So, this is what impacts us. For sure, I feel like it’s not positive and not good at all.”
Despite her awareness of the negative messages she receives, Swiatek feels that players are subjected to harsh criticism regardless of the gambling context.
“But hate is going to be out there on the Internet anyway. There are ways to stop it with algorithms and the apps that are blocking it a little bit. But people put out on the Internet whatever they want, because it’s easy,” she explained.
“So this is the part I would say that hits us. But the whole concept of gambling and business behind it, I’m not really that well-oriented to really say. Sorry.”
