World number one Iga Swiatek has called for the end of online abuse, after receiving hateful messages following her win over China’s Zheng Qinwen at the Cincinnati Open.
22 year old Swiatek won 3-6 6-1 6-1 but received criticism after dropping the first set in the last-16 encounter.
Zheng took a surprise 3-0 lead in windy conditions but was broken in the fourth game to hand the world number one a lifeline.
The Pole appeared to be upset in her post-match news conference as she addressed the abuse.
“The amount of hate and criticism me and my team get after losing a set is ridiculous, I want to encourage people to be more thoughtful when they comment on the internet. We all sacrifice a lot. We’re all working really hard to be in that place. We’re always giving 100% of what we can do every day.It’s sad for me to see that people I work with, and myself, we’re really judged.”
Swiatek, who is the top seed, will face Wimbledon champion and 10th seed Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals after her win over China’s Zheng.
Vondrousova, 24, beat American Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-3 in their last-16 tie.
World number five Ons Jabeur, who reached the quarter-finals after opponent Donna Vekic retired because of illness at 5-2 down in the first set, said much of the abuse aimed at tennis players stems from people betting on the sport.
Meanwhile, American seventh seed Coco Gauff beat Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-0, Greece’s Maria Sakkari advanced with a 3-6 6-2 6-3 win over Czech Karolina Muchova andBelarus’ second seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-3.
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