WATCH: Iga Swiatek goes surfing with Hubert Hurkacz in Perth; takes lessons in the water sport ahead of United Cup 2024

While gearing up for her participation at the 2024 United Cup, Iga Swiatek is also giving water surfing a try.

Swiatek, who was recently in action at the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, has landed in Perth for Poland’s group-stage ties at the United Cup (December 29- January 7). The World No. 1 is in the company of Hubert Hurkacz, Daniel Michalski, Katarzyna Kawa, Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Piter, who are all part of the Polish roster.

Ahead of their United Cup ties, Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz enjoyed a day at Perth’s Scarborough beach along with the rest of their squad. They took some lessons in surfing and put their learnings to practice in the sea.

While the World No. 1 didn’t necessarily look adept at the sport, she did seem to be having the time of her life. She and Hurkacz posed for pictures with the surfboard as well as Poland’s flag.

Thanks to Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz’s high ranking, Poland are the top seeded team at the 2024 event. They are drawn in Group A, alongside 11th seeded Spain led by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Sara Sorribes Tormo, and 17th seed Brazil led by Beatriz Haddad Maia and Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Spain and Brazil will face off on Friday, December 29, while Swiatek and her squad will kick off their 2024 campaign on Saturday, December 30 against Brazil. On January 1, the Poles will face Spain.

The three ties will determine which of the three teams make the knockout stages, set to be held in Sydney.

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"I'm sure Iga Swiatek is going to win a Slam again" – Alex Corretja on Pole's upcoming 2024 season

Iga Swiatek pictured at the 2023 French Open

Retired Spanish tennis player Alex Corretja has high hopes for Iga Swiatek in the upcoming 2024 season. The former World No. 2 believes that the 22-year-old is quick on the uptake and is heading in the right direction.

Corretja also expressed his confidence in Swiatek adding to her Grand Slam tally in 2024.

"Swiatek, she's learning so much. I think she's going in the right direction. She's not just thinking about winning in the short term. She's trying to improve different things, in my opinion," Corretja told Eurosport.

"I think she knows now that she needs to be also very aggressive because everybody's trying to dictate, but at the same time she's trying to be very stable. So I think she's going to be great in 2024 and I see her even more mature. I'm sure that she's going to win a Slam again," he added.

Swiatek has dominated women's tennis over the past couple of years. After first rising to the World No. 1 ranking in April 2022, the 22-year-old maintained her position for a staggering 75 consecutive weeks. During this period, she lifted three Grand Slam titles – two at the French Open (2022, 2023) and one at the US Open (2022). Swiatek also produced a century-best winning streak of 37 wins (in 2022).

However, comparing her two latest seasons, Iga Swiatek was considerably more formidable in 2022 than in 2023.

During her 2022 campaign, the Pole featured in nine finals and lifted eight titles, including two Grand Slams and four WTA 1000s. She posted a 67-9 win-loss record that year.

In 2023, Swiatek had a few hiccups. She won six titles (two fewer than the previous year), including a Grand Slam, a WTA 1000, and the WTA Finals. The four-time Grand Slam champion registered one more win but two more losses (68-11). She also briefly lost her top spot to Aryna Sabalenka, although she reclaimed it just in time to be crowned the year-end World No. 1 for the second time in a row.