"Iga Swiatek has done more for Polish tennis than whole nation" - Agnieszka Radwanska questioning Pole's Billie Jean King Cup absence angers fans
Former World No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska recently questioned her compatriot Iga Swiatek's absence from the ongoing Billie Jean King Cup Finals, prompting tennis fans to react strongly.
Swiatek recently won the WTA Finals, which concluded on November 6. She could not represent Poland in the BJK Cup Finals, which began on November 7 in Seville, Spain, due to a time difference of only one day. The 22-year-old had, however, decided not to compete in the team tournament even before her campaign at the year-end championship in Cancun began.
In view of that, Agnieszka Radwanska, while speaking with WP Sportowych Fakty Studio, questioned Iga Swiatek's choice to forgo the prestigious event for the second year in a row.
"She might not even play for the girls, or she might play at a lower level, just to win. She could not participate in all meetings, but the most important ones. As for the places themselves, it could have been done better. It's an individual matter and Iga's own decision," the former Wimbledon finalist said.
Several tennis fans on social media were miffed by Radwanska's remark, and many took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their feelings. One user defended the four-time Grand Slam champion, saying she has done more for Polish tennis than her 'whole nation combined.'
"These people acting like Iga owes the national team something while she’s done more for Polish tennis than the whole nation combined," the user wrote.
Another commented:
"Literally no one asked. Miss aga so wrong for saying all that about iga like she saw what it meant for iga at united cup and now."
One account posted:
"Read it twice cus I couldn’t wrap around my head the line where it says Iga could’ve just been there (s e r i o u s l y ?) or play at a lower intensity only to score a win… Girl I thought you knew Iga? Anyways glad Iga doesn’t know this mentality - sorry Aga."
Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:
Iga Swiatek: "Coming back to World No. 1, it’s a dream come true"
Iga Swiatek had lost her World No. 1 rank to Aryna Sabalenka following the conclusion of the 2023 US Open in September. Swiatek was eliminated in the fourth round in New York while Sabalenka finished as the runner-up.
However, the Pole reclaimed the top spot after defeating Jessica Pegula in the WTA Finals with a score of 6-1, 6-0. This was her maiden title at the event.
Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka in the semifinals of the year-end tournament, said in her victory speech that it was a 'dream come true' for her to sit atop the rankings again.
"Coming back to World No. 1, it’s a dream come true, for sure. I would say I wasn’t expecting that right now, this season. I was hoping that maybe next year is going to be my year," Iga Swiatek was quoted as saying by CNN.
"But it seems like you know, just working hard and focusing on the right things at the end worked. So I’m really happy," she added.