SUMMARY
- Iga Swiatek is currently in Perth to play in the United Cup.
- The Polish team had an enjoyable day at the beach.
The United Cup has officially rung in the new tennis season. Polish tennis stars Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz are in Perth to participate in the event. However, the duo traded their tennis uniforms for beachwear and had a fun outing with the rest of the team.
Poland is the top-seeded team at the United Cup this year and the strongest on paper. Given the kind of form Swiatek has been in of late, Poland will fancy its chances at lifting the trophy. But while the business end is still a few days away, Swiatek and the rest of the team got a chance to spend the day at Scarborough Beach.
It was not like a regular day by the sea, as the Polish players had to prove their skills on the surfboard. Iga, Hubert, and the others had to take a short class before wading out into the Indian Ocean.
She’s world no.1 but how are Iga Swiatek’s surfing skills? pic.twitter.com/6s78xNfqhE
— Eliza Reilly (@ByElizaReilly) December 28, 2023
“I have had two windsurfing lessons but I had never surfed before. You guys will have to teach me. My tennis is better for sure!” said Swiatek before she swapped her racket for a surfboard (via WTA).
It looked fun, but the players also struggled a bit on the waves. Iga fell off the surfboard a few times too, much to the amusement of her teammates.
👀
🎬 “Soul SURFER” ft. @iga_swiatek 🏄♀️🌊 🇦🇺
Cameo by @HubertHurkacz and #TeamPoland 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/3zBisiTlQK
— TRAVEL&Sp🎾rts (@travel__Sports) December 28, 2023
This is the second time that the Polish ace will be participating in the event. Iga Swiatek had a good year, as she picked up titles and capped off the previous season as the world no. 1 for the second consecutive year.
Iga Swiatek makes an honest confession
The Polish star has emerged as one of the greatest competitors of this generation. At just 22 years of age, Swiatek is a four-time Grand Slam champion. Iga has also found worthy competitors in Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, and the Pole had one hope for the three of them.
Since Ash Barty retired in 2022, the three players have won five of the last seven Grand Slams. Given the fierce rivalry between them, many consider them to be the ‘Big 3’ of the WTA. While Swiatek confessed she did not know who would dominate, she is hopeful to have that consistency.
“Obviously I think these three players, I feel like we’re more consistent than the others. I hope we’re going to kind of save that consistency for the next seasons but I have no idea who is going to stand out,” she said.
Iga Swiatek will hope to carry her good run of form into the new season as well. Swiatek will take on Beatriz Haddad Maia in her season opener on December 30.