— Ashley’s Media (@mediagnome16) September 5, 2024 Iga Swiatek was emotional after her loss to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals at the US Open on Sept. 4, 2024. X
The camera stayed on the Polish pro, who wiped her eyes for nearly 20 seconds in the backstage area the players populate before and after matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“That performance, tearful,” one of the broadcasters said. “Just couldn’t find her game. It was unsettled from the start. Just couldn’t deal with Pegula at all.”
Some found it to be of poor taste for ESPN to focus on Swiatek’s emotional reaction.
“Hi ESPN we do not need to see Iga crying in the back!!!!” Lindsay Gibbs, founder of the Power Plays newsletter, wrote on X.
Ben Rothenberg, who hosts the “No Challenges Remaining” podcast, took issue with ESPN having cameras set up in areas where players go to unwind after matches.
Iga Swiatek was emotional after her loss to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals at the US Open . X
“I don’t understand how players haven’t rioted about these intrusive eyes backstage at Slams yet,” Rothenberg wrote on X, including Gibbs’ message.
“There’s just so little deference shown to players who clearly think they are behind closed doors.”
“Why are we filming Iga Swiatek crying long after her match is over? Seems cruel?” another wrote.
Iga Swiatek in action against Jessica Pegula during their quarterfinals match at the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York on September 4, 2024. JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Swiatek was visibly frustrated during the quarterfinal matchup.
At one point, she smashed her racket on the net after getting her serve broken in the second set.
“It’s never easy to play against Jess,” Swiatek said, according to ESPN. “She has a tricky ball because it’s pretty low and pretty flat. I just made too many mistakes.”
Iga Swiatek smashes her racquet on the net in frustration in the second set against Jessica Pegula (USA) during their quarterfinals match at the 2024 U.S. Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. on Sept 4. Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Pegula — who’s billionaire father, Terry Pegula owns the Buffalo Bills and Sabres — has yet to drop a set at the tournament, and has won 14 of her last 15 matches.
She was 0-6 entering her Grand Slam quarterfinals match with Swiatek.
Jessica Pegula of the U.S.in action during her quarterfinal match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the 2024 US Open on Sept. 4, 2024. REUTERS
The sixth-seeded American will face unseeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic on Thursday.
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