WTA top 50 player sends message to Iga Swiatek after practice session together ahead of the World Tennis League

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Iga Swiatek is among the star names taking part in the World Tennis League, which is now underway in Abu Dhabi.

Swiatek will take play the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February, but first this week she is at Yas Island.

The Pole was ranked first on the WTA Tour for the majority of the season, but was eventually overtaken by Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka was named Player of the Year by both Tim Henman and Laura Robson, with the former British number ones left hugely impressed by the Belarusian.

She won the Australian Open and US Open, although it was Swiatek who led the way for titles in 2024 with five.

Caroline Garcia messages Iga Swiatek after Abu Dhabi practice session

Swiatek will now be looking to find form ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, beginning with the World Tennis League.

The Pole practised with former world number four Caroline Garcia in Abu Dhabi ahead of the event, with the latter sharing a photo of the pair on court on her Instagram story.

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Garcia, now ranked 48 in the world, wrote: “Thank you Iga Swiatek for the practice. Back in Abu Dhabi for the World Tennis League.”

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Swiatek is representing Team Eagles at the team event in Abu Dhabi, joined by fellow WTA star Paula Badosa.

Garcia meanwhile is teaming up with Elena Rybakina for Team Falcons, with the pair losing their first match to Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva.

The Pole will undoubtedly be using the competition as preparation for the 2025 Australian Open, which takes place in Melbourne in January.

She endured a frustrarting end to her 2024 season, with coaching changes and more significantly a drugs case causing plenty of distraction.

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But Swiatek can be extremely proud of her five tour-level titles, which included a third successive French Open title and fifth career Grand Slam title.