Iga Swiatek has pledged to donate $50,000 of her prize money to support World Mental Health Day. Switaek announced the news after her third round win at Indian Wells. She said that her charitable donation was inspired by Venus Williams, who recently launched an initiative to provide $2 million for free mental health therapy.

Mental health has been a focus in tennis recently. Naomi Osaka raised mental health awareness by pulling out of the post-match press conferences at the French Open.

Swiatek said:

I would say in sports, for me it was always important to use that kind of help because I always thought that in my mental toughness there is some strength that I can use on court and I can also develop in that manner.

In 2020, Iga Swiatek created history by becoming the first Polish player ever to win a singles grand slam. Swiatek is also a favorite among fans. She was voted the WTA Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year in 2020.

Retired Russian tennis player Dmitry Tursunov has been coaching Anett Kontaveit since August 2021. With Tursunov as her coach, Kontaveit won two tournaments of the last three tournament she has played in – Cleveland Championships and the Ostrava Open.

Speaking of the coaching relationship, Kontaveit said:

I was looking for a coach and I suppose he was looking for a job, so that’s how it happened.

Though Kontaveit is immensely talented, she has yet to break through at a grand slam. Her best grand slam result came at the 2020 Australian Open where she reached the quarterfinals.

Tursunov is a former world number 20. He retired in 2017 after a string of injuries. After retirement, he has coached  Elena Vesnina and Aryna Sabalenka.