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Iga Swiatek's non-participation at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville has prompted compatriot Agnieszka Radwanska to ask questions of her.
Swiatek recently reclaimed the World No. 1 by beating America's Jessica Pegula 6-1, 6-0 in the summit clash of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. However, the Pole's triumph at the year-end championships resulted in her having to skip the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which started immediately afterwards in Seville, Spain.
Compatriot Agnieszka Radwanska commented on Swiatek's absence in a recent interview, questioning why the 22-year-old decided to sit out the team event. In an interview with WP Sportowych Fakty Studio, Radwanska wondered why Swiatek did not accompany her team and try to play in at least the important, must-win clashes.
"She might not even perform to support the girls or play at a lower level just to win," Radwanska said. "She might not participate in all the meetings, but the most important ones."
At the same time, the former World No. 2 said the WTA schedule could have been better, especially when it came to choosing venues for the Finals and the Billie Jean King Cup.
"As for the places themselves, it could be done better. This is an individual matter and Iga's decision," Radwanska conceded.
It is worth noting that Swiatek had announced pre-emptively that she wouldn't participate in the Bille Jean King Cup Finals, due to the class in the schedule. The four-time Grand Slam champion had skipped last year's BJK Cup as well for similar reasons.
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals commenced on November 9. Team Poland failed to secure a semifinal spot after losing 0-3 to Canada and 1-2 to Spain.
Iga Swiatek: "I want to thank the amazing women I compete with on tour"
Iga Swiatek, meanwhile, reserved a few words of praise for her fellow competitors on the WTA tour and acknowledged how their presence inspired her to become a better player.
"Last but not least… I want to thank the amazing women I compete with on tour," Iga Swiatek wrote on social media after her WTA Finals triumph. "Thanks to you, I constantly want to be a better player. Every one of us has our own story and we can tell those stories together through our sport. I’m grateful for you and for this opportunity. The best things happen to us when… we stop chasing them. #almostoff."
