Iga Swiatek: ITF President responds to complaints over "unhealthy" schedule

ITF President David Haggety has responded to Iga Świątek’s complaints over the “unhealthy” scheduling of upcoming tennis events.

The world number one recently announced she will not be competing at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals next month due to impractical timings.

The tournament will take place in Glasgow on November 8th, one day after the WTA Finals in Austin, Texas draw to a close.

Świątek was due to compete at both the WTA Finals and the BJK Cup Finals with Team Poland, but has forfeited her place at the latter tournament.

If the three-time Grand Slam champion competes until the final day of the WTA Finals, she would have had just one day to travel from the US to the UK.

“I was thinking it through a lot and discussing it with my team all over again, but I will not be able to play at the Billie Jean King Cup in Glasgow. And it makes me sad,” Świątek wrote in a statement on her Instagram.

“I’m very sorry because I play for Poland whenever it’s possible and I always give it my best. Playing in Poland this year [in the qualifiers] was an honour and I hoped to do this again at the end of the season.

“I’m disappointed that tennis governing bodies didn’t come to an agreement on something as basic as the calendar of tournaments, giving us only one day to travel through the globe and changing the time zone.

“The situation is not safe for our health and could cause injury. This situation is difficult not only for the players like me, but mainly for the tennis fans that support our sport.”

The 21-year-old then assured supporters she would be contacting the WTA and ITF with her complaints over the scheduling.

Just days after raising her concerns, ITF President Haggerty has responded and has taken the comments from the world