Andy Roddick’s Served podcast had the perfect response to a social media troll who questioned Iga Swiatek’s relevance after her breakthrough victory at the Cincinnati Open. Swiatek’s win not only earned her the prestigious WTA 1000 crown but also marked her 24th career title, lifting her back to World No. 2.
The 23-year-old has been in brilliant form this season, boasting a 49-12 record. July saw her capture her first Wimbledon title, and she quickly followed that milestone by storming through the Cincinnati draw without dropping a set. She sealed the championship with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Jasmine Paolini in the final, having earlier defeated Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. The Cincinnati title was her 11th at the WTA 1000 level—second only to Serena Williams.
When Roddick and fellow Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters shared a celebratory Instagram post calling Swiatek the “Cincy Champ,” a user commented dismissively: “Does anyone really care about her?” Roddick’s podcast answered with a sharp, one-word comeback: “Yes.”
This isn’t the first time Roddick has come to Swiatek’s defense. Earlier in the year, he strongly criticized Polish journalists who scrutinized her following a doping controversy. Swiatek had tested positive for trimetazidine in late 2024, which was later traced to contaminated melatonin. She accepted a brief suspension but was cleared of wrongdoing. Roddick argued that instead of tearing her down, the Polish media should celebrate their country’s greatest sports icon.
Next on Swiatek’s schedule is the mixed doubles event at the US Open, where she’ll join forces with Casper Ruud. Following her Cincinnati victory, she and men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz even shared a private jet ride to New York to kick off their campaigns.
