By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, Poland’s top-ranked WTA and ATP players, are using their voices to call for an investigation into accusations that the president of the Polish Tennis Federations has committed sexual abuse of former players.
The pair took to social media to voice their concern after Polish MP, Katarzyna Kotula, made public claims that Skrzypczyński, abused her multiple times when she was 13 years of age.
Kotula came forward after witnessing Skrzypczyński question the reliability of previous accusations against him. Those accusations were originally published by Polish outlet Onet, based on testimony of anonymous alleged victims.
Hurkaz called for the appropriate authorities to investigate.
“I support all women and all victims of abuse,” Hurkacz wrote. “No coach or guardian should use their power and position towards anyone. Any aggression, both in sports as well as outside of it needs to be condemned and punished. I hope that appropriate authorities will react to the press reports on the subject of the head of the Polish Tennis Association. I stand with all victims of abuse.”
Swiatek posted a detailed post stating her beliefs, and hopes that the powers that be make a proper investigation.
“When it comes to physical violence or emotional abuse, the most important issue is thinking and being sensitive about victims,” Swiatek wrote. “When we speak up about something wrong happening, we need to think about them first and most of all.
“I'm against violence, in sports, in tennis, in every discipline and in everyday life,” the world No. 1 wrote. “That's why I consider the articles about the president of the Polish Tennis Association as a serious matter.”
Swiatek believes that the matter is too serious to be taken lightly.
“Governing bodies should determine what happened and I hope they will take care of this case after the media wrote about the stories of people who they talked with. This is not my role to do the work of governing bodies and journalists, as the matter is too serious, and it's about people's life and health.
“Personally, I was lucky to not experience such difficult, terrible situations and I'm grateful for my dad and for how wisely he managed my career,” she said. “I have an amazing team, safety, and currently I'm really privileged, but I'm aware that not every athlete could have the same independence. I hope that with the exposure of such matters, and solving them carefully and fairly, sports will change for the better in Poland and in the world.”