Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek criticized tennis authorities for the tennis schedule. Swiatek also revealed that she would not play for Poland in the next month’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow.
Swiatek, the world’s best tennis player, had previously planned to represent her country, but now she believes the lack of time between the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals would make it too risky to participate.
International Tennis Federation will run the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow. The WTA Finals in Texas will finish on 7 November, while the Billie Jean King Cup Finals begin the following day.
In an Instagram post, Swiatek said I was thinking it through a lot and discussing it with my team all over again, but I will not be able to play at the Billie Jean King Cup in Glasgow. She said it makes me sad, and I am very sorry because I play for Poland whenever it’s possible and always give it my best.
Playing in Poland this year was an honor, and I hoped to do this again at the end of the season, she said.
About the schedule, Swiatek said, I am disappointed that tennis governing bodies did not agree on something as basic as the calendar of tournaments, giving us only one day to travel through the changing time zone and globe.
Moreover, she said the situation is not safe for our health and could cause injury, and I am going to talk to the WTA and ITF to change something. This situation is difficult not only for the players like me but mainly for the tennis fans that support our sport, she added.
The absence of Swiatek is a blow to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.