Report: Iga Swiatek Gets Extra Security After 'Aggressive' Fan Behavior at Miami Open

Iga Świątek will reportedly receive additional security at the 2025 Miami Open after an incident involving an "aggressive" fan.

According to BBC's Jonathan Jurejko, the fan "shouted personal insults about Świątek's family" during a Saturday practice session.

Świątek's spokesperson told Jurejko the fan had previously contacted the Polish tennis star on social media.

"The Miami incident appears to be a direct transition from verbal aggression online to harassment in the real world. He was aggressive and taunting," Świątek's representative told Jurejko.

Świątek's team told Jurejko they "monitor the network to catch these types of issues."

"Constructive criticism is one thing, and threats, hate speech or even disturbance during training is another—this cannot be condoned," Świątek's spokesperson told Jurejko.

The Miami Open told Jurejko: "We constantly evaluate any potential threats and take every measure to respond appropriately."

The WTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.

Świątek recently revealed she struggled mentally amid the one-month suspension she served after failing an out-of-competition drug test in August. In a March 17 Instagram post, she wrote that she "didn't want to step on the court" six months ago.

The incident comes after British tennis star Emma Raducanu was shaken by seeing a man who the WTA later said "exhibited fixated behavior" in the stands of her match at the Dubai Championships in February. The man was subsequently banned from WTA events.

Raducanu, who has previously dealt with stalkers, told BBC Sport's Russell Fuller the incident "could have been dealt with better" but that afterward she "definitely got increased attention and greater security."

WTA chief executive Portia Archer meanwhile said the incident in Dubai wasn't a "security failure" but was instead the result of a "very unfortunate series of events."

Świątek is seeking her second Miami Open title after winning the event in 2022. After defeating Elina Svitolina in straight sets on Monday, she is preparing to face Alexandra Eala on Wednesday in the Miami Open quarterfinals.

Eala, a 19-year-old teenager representing the Philippines, toppled No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko and No. 5 Madison Keys to challenge Świątek for a trip to the semifinal.