Iga Swiatek Slammed After Poland’s Defeat in Billie Jean King Cup: “When We Need Her, She’s Not There”

Iga Swiatek is being criticized for not joining Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup team for the qualifying rounds. Poland suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Ukraine. The matches were held at the PreZero Arena, Gliwice, in Poland. Despite having home advantage, Poland couldn’t do much.

First, Marta Kostyuk registered an easy win over Magda Linette before Elina Svitolina dismantled Katarzyna Kawa. In the doubles match, the Ukrainian pair Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok beat Maja Chwalinska and Martyna Kubka in three sets, and later Oleksandra Oliynykova went past Linda Klimovicova in straight sets.

Another name missing from Poland’s team was Magdalena Frech. Polish former player and Polsatsport commentator Dawid Olejniczak, during an interview, criticized Swiatek for her withdrawal, saying that when the team needs the six-time Grand Slam champion, she chooses not to participate.

It could have been different. Especially if Iga had been there. Although it would have been better if Magda [Magdalena Frech] had been there too. It’s a shame it turned out this way. In November, when we were playing in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs, Swiatek arrived, even though we could have managed without her. And when we need her, she’s not there. And we’re not the [United] States or the Czech Republic, able to cope without our biggest star.

Swiatek did not withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying rounds for no reason. After her shock opening-round exit at the hands of Linette in the Miami Open, the World No.4 parted ways with Belgian coach Wim Fissette and went to Mallorca to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy under the watchful eyes of the new coach, Francisco Roig.

Rafael Nadal himself was there to provide some help to the 24-year-old. Roig had worked for nearly a couple of decades with the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

Brad Gilbert on the big difference between Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu

Before joining Iga Swiatek‘s team, Francisco Roig had also worked with Emma Raducanu, who hired the 58-year-old last August. Roig thought the partnership was not bringing any results, and so he split with the Brit following her second-round exit at the Australian Open this year.

Coco Gauff‘s former coach, Brad Gilbert, who also had worked with Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray, explained the difference between Roig’s former and current pupils.

So the big difference between those two [Swiatek and Raducanu] is movement. Iga is unbelievably fast. She’s probably the second-best mover on the women’s tour behind Coco. So if he does want her to, or Rafa wants her to, maybe extend the points, she can do that. I feel like with Emma, maybe she doesn’t feel like she can do that. She probably needs to add that to her game.

Brad Gilbert said on The Big T Podcast

After parting ways with the 2021 US Open champion, Roig joined Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard‘s team, but without informing him, he joined Swiatek’s entourage. Perricard got to know about the same from his agent, and the whole thing greatly vexed him. But the 22-year-old Frenchman is now working with Greg Rusedski.

Swiatek is in Stuttgart, the WTA 500 event, which she won in 2022 and 2023 by defeating World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, also the four-time runner-up in the tournament, who ended up withdrawing this year. The former World No.1, who has yet to reach a semifinal this year, will be up against Laura Siegemund in the opening round.

The last time Swiatek won a title was at the 2025 Korea Open, and the last time she won a title on clay was at the 2024 Roland Garros. She has yet to reach a final on her favorite surface since her fourth victory in the 2024 French Open.

Also read: Thomas Enqvist Shares Plans for Matteo Berrettini After the Italian’s Resurgence in Monte Carl

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