Iga Swiatek Pulls Out of Billie Jean King Cup, Prioritizes Tokyo Olympics 2021

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek has put out a tweet saying that she will not play the Billie Jean King Cup, previously known as the Fed Cup, this year.

The reigning French Open champion said that while it is an honor and a privilege to be able to represent her country, she has to prioritize her schedule in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation across the globe.

Iga Swiatek says she has to readjust her schedule in view of the pandemic

The current World Number 16 said that playing for the flag is considered a “tradition” and the highest honor in her family, but the first “full” WTA season since the pandemic demands that she adjust her schedule accordingly.

“As this first ‘full’ year on (the) WTA Tour is full of challenges and surprises, especially in COVID-reality, I have to adjust and adapt to the circumstances,” Swiatek wrote.

She, however, clarified that representing her country at the Tokyo Olympics remains one of her “relevant goals for this season”.

“I will do my best in Tokyo to proudly represent my country,” said the 19-year-old Pole, who lifted her maiden Tour title at the WTA Adelaide International earlier this year.

Swiatek added that she is hopeful of playing “many more” matches at the Billie Jean King Cup, a prestigious annual team event, in the future.

Swiatek took the tennis world by storm by winning maiden Grand Slam

Swiatek turned many heads and got the tennis world raving about her remarkable self-belief, match awareness, and maturity at the Roland-Garros last year.

What stood out in her incredible championship-run at the Major was that she didn’t drop a single set on the way to lifting her maiden Grand Slam title. She became the youngest player since Monica Seles to claim the championship trophy in Paris and was also the first from her country to win a Grand Slam.

Hoping to build on her Roland-Garros success, Swiatek arrived at Melbourne Park in the hope of landing her second Major title at the Australian Open.

She reached the fourth round without breaking much sweat, setting up a clash with two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep for a place in the quarters. However, she was outdone by the Romanian in three-sets in the pre-quarters clash.

The Pole did gain a measure of redemption by beating Swiss Belinda Bencic to the WTA Adelaide title, which was the event that followed the Australian Open.

Read More: “Don’t Seem So Unrealistic”: Iga Swiatek Reveals Her Biggest Ambition