Iga Swiatek's online hater harasses her in person at Miami Open

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek learned at the Miami Open this week that online trolls climb out of their holes when they see fit.

The Pole has recently been subjected to vitriol on social media, and some of that hate spilled over in person during her recent trip to South Beach.

According to the BBC, Swiatek was targeted by a man in a practice session at Hardrock Stadium last Saturday who shouted "personal insults" about her and her family. Swiatek's representatives told the news outlet that the same man had previously sent her abusive messages via social media.  

"The Miami incident appears to be a direct transition from verbal aggression online to harassment in the real world," her team told the BBC. "He was aggressive and taunting...Constructive criticism is one thing, and threats, hate speech or even disturbance during training is another - this cannot be condoned."

The report added that the incident was swiftly reported to the Miami Open organizers, who put "extra security measures in place" and beefed up Swiatek's security. It's unknown if the unruly fan was banned from the premises or denied entry to Swiatek's matches. 

Swiatek crashed out of the Miami Open on Wednesday, suffering a 6-2, 7-5 loss to the unseeded Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinal. The result wasn't entirely shocking. Eala, a teenager from the Philippines, previously upset Madison Keys and earned a walkover win over the injured Paula Badosa en route to the quarterfinal. She will now face American Jessica Pegula in Thursday's semifinal.

As for Swiatek, the loss meant that her lengthy title drought will continue. The 23-year-old has not tasted victory since last June's French Open. In 2025, she has fallen at either the quarterfinals or the semifinals in all five tournaments, including the Australian Open.