On April 10–11 in Gliwice, Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup clash with Ukraine was meant to ignite national pride, but anticipation took a sharp hit. Last Saturday, hopes dimmed when Iga Swiatek, the six-time Grand Slam champion, on whom fans were counting, was ruled out. And her absence didn’t just sting emotionally; it reportedly cooled public interest so significantly that the Polish Tennis Association was forced to step in.

According to Interia Sport, the Polish Tennis Association responded firmly after claims about ticket returns surfaced ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup tie in Gliwice. The controversy began when coach, commentator, and analyst Lech Sidor suggested fans were reacting to Swiatek’s absence.

“The statement that ‘people are en masse returning tickets’ for the Poland-Ukraine match in the Billie Jean King Cup is untrue,” they said. “According to information provided by the distributor, there has been one such request in the last week. We are also not observing increased activity in ticket resale. We are surprised by the lack of faith in the attitude and commitment of Polish fans.”

The statement also pointed to past fan support as evidence. 

“Last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers tournament in Radom clearly showed that, regardless of the circumstances or the line-up, the national team can count on strong support and genuine fan support. Such statements are also unfair to the players who come to Gliwice to represent Poland and deserve the full support of their fans and respect for their work and commitment.

“As the Polish Tennis Association, we appreciate all initiatives that popularize tennis, such as the ‘Trzeci Serwis’ channel, but we encourage building their popularity based on reliable and verified information.”

Sidor had earlier spoken about the situation in a YouTube video on the Trzeci Serwis channel. He expressed concern about the fans and the overall situation surrounding the venue and organization.

“I’m sorry for the fans. There was an issue with the PreZero Arena, a concert was canceled, everything was arranged. From what I understand, people are returning their tickets en masse, trying to sell them elsewhere, or will simply throw them away,” he said.

Despite the Association’s claims, Swiatek’s withdrawal has clearly weakened Poland’s squad. The team will enter the tie without a single top-50 player, while Ukraine arrives stronger with Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk leading the lineup.

Poland must beat Ukraine to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, while Ukraine aims to build on last year’s semifinal run and push further in 2026. 

Poland already missed the final eight in 2025, and with Swiatek still chasing her first Billie Jean King Cup title, her absence may delay that goal again, even as renewed scrutiny grows over her recent on-court form.

Rennae Stubbs identifies the root cause of Iga Swiatek’s struggles

Iga Swiatek was once the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, but her position is now under pressure. With the rise of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, she is close to slipping out of the top five again.

Her struggles are not obvious at first glance, but they appear in small and critical moments. Analysts say her decision-making, once instinctive, now looks rushed and forced at key points.

These small lapses have started affecting her results on the court. Matches that she once controlled are now slipping away due to poor shot choices under pressure.

Her second-round loss at the Miami Open only increased concerns about her current form. The defeat also led to a major change, as she parted ways with coach Wim Fissette.

Following this setback, former player and coach Rennae Stubbs offered detailed advice. She spoke openly about what Swiatek and her team should focus on before the next tournament.

“If I was coaching her… I would say stay with the same shot. You don’t need to change the direction of the ball that much,” said Stubbs. “I think you should stop trying to hit the sidelines. Hit the ball big and rely on the relentless pressure you are putting on your opponent.”

This analysis matches what Swiatek herself has admitted publicly. She has described this period as the “worst nightmare” stretch of her career.

According to Polish outlet Przeglad Sportowy Onet, a new coaching move is already in progress. Francisco Roig is expected to join her on a trial basis in Mallorca.

She will train at the Rafael Nadal Academy as she prepares for the clay season. Last year, she struggled on clay and failed to win a WTA title, including missing the chance to defend her French Open crown.

This season, the four-time French Open champion will try to reverse that trend. She will return at the Stuttgart Open on April 13, followed by the Madrid Open on April 20, aiming to rediscover her best form on clay.