Swiatek to Skip United Cup, Open at Brisbane
Iga Swiatek will miss the January 2027 United Cup for the first time since its 2023 launch and begin her season at the Brisbane International.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Tennis
Iga Swiatek will skip the United Cup in January 2027 and start her 2027 season at the Brisbane International, which runs January 3-10. Her coach Francisco Roig confirmed the schedule decision, which follows a 2026 season disrupted by a left thigh injury.
Why it matters
The decision reflects a training plan and competition calendar built around the Australian Open, where Swiatek is chasing the Career Grand Slam. It also signals a deliberate effort to rest after one of the most demanding seasons of her career.
Brisbane offers up to 500 ranking points, while Swiatek collected 150 ranking points at the 2026 United Cup. Her 2026 Australian Open campaign ended in the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-1 loss to Elena Rybakina.
The players
Iga Swiatek
The Polish world-class tennis player who has won multiple Grand Slam titles and is pursuing the Career Grand Slam at the 2027 Australian Open.
Francisco Roig
Swiatek's coach, who confirmed the 2027 schedule decision in an interview with Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
The details
Swiatek has appeared in every United Cup edition since the event launched in 2023, and Poland won the 2026 event with her help. Roig said the decision was guided primarily by the training plan and competition calendar, especially in the context of the Australian Open.
Timeline
• 2026 season: Swiatek's season ended after a left thigh injury hampered her in the Wuhan Open semifinal loss to Maja Chwalinska.
• January 3-10, 2027: Brisbane International, Swiatek's planned season opener.
• January 2027: United Cup, which Swiatek will skip.
• 2027 Australian Open: Swiatek's primary goal, where she will chase the Career Grand Slam.
Season Trajectory
Swiatek's decision to skip the United Cup for the first time since its 2023 launch breaks a streak she built across every edition of the event. The move shifts her 2027 focus toward Brisbane and the Australian Open, where she is chasing the Career Grand Slam.
Fantasy and tournament followers should note that Swiatek will not accumulate United Cup points in January 2027, and her ranking points will depend on Brisbane and the Australian Open results. The skipped event also removes a team competition from her calendar that she had played every year since 2023.
The takeaway
Swiatek's schedule choice shows how top players now plan around rest and major-event peaks rather than playing every available tournament. Following a demanding 2026 season, the decision prioritizes her long-term Grand Slam ambitions over a familiar early-season commitment.
What happens next
Swiatek's Brisbane International opener runs January 3-10, 2027, and her Australian Open campaign will follow.
Further reading
For more on the sport's calendar and player schedules, explore Tennis coverage.
