Iga Swiatek touches down in Spain for first ever Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign after shock WTA Finals exit

Iga Swiatek has arrived in Malaga, Spain, to play her last tourmament of the 2024 season. The World No. 2 is set to represent Poland at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals and aims to win the title for her nation for the first time ever.

Swiatek comes to Malaga after a disappointing campaign at the 2024 WTA Finals. The Pole was the defending champion at the year-end championship but bowed out of the tournament in the group stage itself. She defeated Barbora Krejcikova in a three-set thriller in her opening contest in Riyadh before losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff in straight sets.

In her final group stage match, Swiatek thwarted Daria Kasatkina but failed to qualify for the knockout stage due to an inferior sets won-lost ratio to Gauff. She took some time off after her exit at the WTA Finals, enjoying the tourist sites on offer in Saudi Arabia with her new coach, Wim Fisette, and performance physiologist, Daria Abramowicz.

Swiatek has now arrived in Spain to participate in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals, to be played from November 13 to 20, for the first time in her career. She landed in Malaga on November 10 and was greeted at the airport by Spanish tennis legend Conchita Martinez, the tournament director of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup.

Swiatek will headline Team Poland at the tournament and will be joined by Magdalena Linette, Magda Frech, Maja Chwalinska, and Katarzyna Kawa. Poland will face hosts Spain in the first round on November 13. Swiatek will be up against the Spanish headliner Paula Badosa in one of two singles matches. Frech vs. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro will be the other singles match.

In the only doubles rubber, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Badosa will face Kawa and Linette. The winner of the tie will face 10-time champions Czech Republic, led by Karolina Muchova and Katerina Siniakova, in the quarterfinals.

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"I’ll play for my country and proudly represent Poland" - Iga Swiatek

In Picture: Iga Swiatek (Source: Getty)

Iga Swiatek confirmed her participation at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals on October 22 via a social media post. The 22-year-old reveled in pride while announcing that she would don the red and white in Malaga and hoped to put her best foot forward for her nation.

"See you in Malaga! I’m happy to announce that I will play in the BJKC Finals. I’m glad that I’ll play for my country and proudly represent Poland. Together with team Poland we will give our best on the court. I hope you’ll watch and support us. See you soon!" Swiatek wrote on X.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was part of the Polish contingent during the qualifying stages for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals back in April. Swiatek played two singles matches against Switzerland. She defeated Simona Waltert and Celine Naef as Poland defeated Switzerland 4-0 to reach the Finals stage for the third year in a row.

Swiatek has always jumped at the chance to represent Poland on the international stage. She recently won the bronze medal in the women's singles category at the 2024 Paris Olympics and helped Poland finish as runners-up at the 2024 United Cup.