Iga Świątek will not represent Poland at the United Cup, according to a report from Onet published on 1 November 2026. The former world No. 1 has decided against defending the title she helped Poland win for the first time in the country's history in January 2026.
Onet, citing information from the player's team, reported that Świątek has other plans for the start of the new season and will be absent from the mixed-team event. The outlet also reported that a replacement has been identified, though the full Polish lineup has not been confirmed in the material reviewed.
The news lands less than a year after Świątek led Poland to its maiden United Cup triumph, a result that marked a significant moment for Polish tennis on the international stage.
Why it matters
The United Cup is one of the first major team events on the tennis calendar, and Świątek's presence has been central to Poland's standing in it. Her withdrawal changes the complexion of the Polish campaign before it begins.
For Świątek, skipping the event signals a deliberate approach to scheduling at the start of the season. Onet's report frames the decision as a matter of priorities rather than injury, describing it simply as other plans for the opening stretch of the year.
For Poland, the task now shifts from defending a title with its leading player to rebuilding a team around the players who remain available. The United Cup rewards depth across singles and mixed doubles, and Poland's chances will depend heavily on how the rest of the squad performs without its most decorated competitor.
The timing also matters for the tournament itself. Świątek is among the biggest names in women's tennis, and her absence removes a headline attraction from an event that leans on star power to draw audiences early in the season.
Poland's likely lineup takes shape
Polish media have reported that Hubert Hurkacz and Maja Chwalińska are expected to represent the country at the United Cup, according to sport.tvp.pl. The pair would carry the singles load in Świątek's absence.
Chwalińska has signalled her intent to help Poland keep the title, with Eurosport Polska reporting that she wants to contribute to the defence in the same way Hurkacz has committed to the team. SportoweFakty reported that Chwalińska has made her move, raising the question of how Świątek would respond — a question now answered by Onet's report that she will not take part.
The dynamic between the players has drawn attention in Polish coverage, but the substance is straightforward: Poland will field a team without its top-ranked woman, and the players stepping in have publicly framed their involvement as a commitment to the national side.
Hurkacz's participation gives Poland a proven singles option on the men's side, while Chwalińska's role would expand considerably compared with a campaign built around Świątek. Mixed doubles combinations will also need to be reworked, since Świątek's partnership options are no longer on the table.
What Świątek's calendar looks like instead
Onet's report does not specify Świątek's alternative plans beyond stating that she has other commitments for the beginning of the season. The outlet's headline and summary describe the decision as official and note that her team confirmed she will not be part of the squad.
For a player of Świątek's profile, the opening weeks of the year typically involve decisions about which events to play and how to manage workload ahead of the Australian swing. Skipping a team event is a scheduling choice that frees up time, though Onet does not detail how she intends to use it.
What the report does make clear is that the absence is not a late scratch or a withdrawal forced by circumstance. It is a planned decision communicated through her team, which means Poland's selectors have had notice to arrange the lineup accordingly.
The bigger picture for Polish tennis
Poland's 2026 United Cup title was a landmark result, and it came with Świątek as the centrepiece. Defending that title without her tests whether the achievement was a product of one exceptional player or a broader strength in Polish tennis.
The answer will not be settled in a single tournament, but the 2027 edition now becomes a meaningful test case. Hurkacz and Chwalińska have both indicated they want to be part of the answer, and their performances will shape how the team is viewed going forward.
There is also a practical dimension. United Cup results feed into rankings and confidence ahead of the Australian Open, and a strong showing without Świątek would give Polish players valuable momentum. A weak one would underline how much the team has leaned on her.
Onet's reporting is the first confirmation that Świątek will be absent, and it comes with the detail that her replacement is already known internally. That suggests the Polish camp has been preparing for this scenario rather than reacting to it.
What to watch
The official Polish squad announcement will confirm the full lineup and clarify who takes Świątek's place alongside Hurkacz and Chwalińska. Until then, Onet's report stands as the clearest signal that Poland will begin its title defence without the player who delivered the first one.
