Swiatek plans showdown talks with the WTA after pulling out of BJK Cup

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Iga Swiatek has vowed to plan talks with the Women’s Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation after announcing that she would not be representing Poland in this year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The world No 1 recently hit out at both organisations for their scheduling with the WTA Finals ending the day before the BJK Cup begins, and has now pulled out as a result of the quick turnaround.

Swiatek has officially withdrawn from the Billie Jean King Cup finals, announcing that she will not be able to represent Poland in the event seen as the women’s World Cup of tennis. It comes just days after the three-time Major champion slammed the WTA and ITF for their “impossible” scheduling.

The world No 1 has now made the decision not to represent her country in Glasgow next month as she said the schedule was “not safe for our health” and vowed showdown talks with the two governing bodies. “I was thinking it through a lot and discussing it with my team all over again, but I will not be able to play the Billie Jean King Cup in Glasgow,” the 21-year-old wrote on her Instagram story on Monday.

“And it makes me sad. I’m very sorry, because I play for Poland whenever it’s possible and I always give it my best. Playing in Poland this year was an honour and I hoped to do this again at the end of the season.” Swiatek then turned her attention to the WTA and ITF, sharing her disappointment that their organisation of the calendar stopped her from playing.

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She continued: “I’m disappointed that the tennis governing bodies don’t come to an agreement on something as basic as the calendar of tournaments, giving us only one day to travel through the globe and changing time zone. The situation is not safe for our health and could cause injury.”

And Swiatek vowed to speak with both bodies to find a solution for future seasons, adding: “I’m going to talk to the WTA and ITF in order to change something. This situation is difficult not only for the players like me, but mainly for the tennis fans that support our sport.”

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Swiatek was the first singles player to qualify for the WTA Finals this year after a stellar season that saw her go on a 37-match winning streak, winning six titles during that run, including her second French Open crown. And she also won her first Grand Slam title away from the clay at the US Open last month, marking her seventh title of 2022.

The WTA Finals sees the eight players who earned the most ranking points this season compete in a round-robin format for a place in the semi-finals and finals. It ends on November 7 with the BJK Cup beginning on November 8.

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