World number one tennis player Iga Swiatek has announced her decision not to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup and at the same time criticised the WTA and ITF.
“I have thought about it for a long time and discussed it with my team over and over again, but I will not be able to play the Billie Jean King Cup in Glasgow. And that makes me sad,” the 21-year-old Pole shared on Instagram.
She had always enjoyed playing for her home country in the Nations Tournament and hopes to do it again soon. But the tight schedule does not allow any other decision now. Because from 31 October, Swiatek will compete as favourite at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, and just one day after the tournament ends, the Billie Jean King Cup will begin on 8 November in Glasgow, some 7200 kilometres away.
“I am disappointed that the federations could not agree on even the most basic things like the tournament schedule, thus giving us only one day to travel around the globe and through two time zones. This situation is not good for our health and can cause injuries,” said the three-time Grand Slam winner, who triumphed at the French Open and US Open this year. Swiatek wants to talk to the Women “s Tennis Association (WTA) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to avoid such a situation, which is “difficult” not only for the players but also for the fans.
