World number four Coco Gauff is due to lead the United States challenge at the second Billie Jean King Cup finals that start in Glasgow tomorrow ©Getty Images

Two players who took part in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, which concludes today, are due to fly to Glasgow in time to make tomorrow’s start of the second edition of the Billie Jean King Cup finals in the Scottish city’s Emirates Arena.

While Poland’s world number one Iga Świątek will not be making the trip world number four Coco Gauff of the United States and the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova plan to do so.

The international women’s team tennis competition, known as the Federation Cup from its inception in 1963 to 1994, and as the Fed Cup until 2020, was won under its new name in Prague last year as the Russian Tennis Federation defeated Switzerland, and 12 teams qualified earlier this year to contest the latest title.

Świątek, who helped her country qualify, announced at the start of last month that she would not be in Glasgow due to the quick turnaround after the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, where she lost in the semi-finals yesterday to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Świątek said "the situation is not safe for our health and could cause injury."

Poland's world number one Iga Świątek said last month she would not consider playing in the Billie Jean King Cup finals that start in Glasgow tomorrow because they were too close to the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas ©Getty Images
Poland's world number one Iga Świątek said last month she would not consider playing in the Billie Jean King Cup finals that start in Glasgow tomorrow because they were too close to the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas ©Getty Images

King, 78, who won 12 Grand Slam titles including five at Wimbledon and was a founder of the WTA, said she wished Świątek could have "waited a little longer" before making her decision, but added: "I can totally understand her reasoning."

The 12 finalists are arranged in four groups, with the winners of each advancing to the semi-finals, prior to the final, scheduled for Sunday (November 13).

Group A features Switzerland, Canada and Italy, Group B contains Australia, Slovakia and Belgium, Group C features Spain, Kazakhstan and Britain, and Group D includes Czech Republic, United States and Poland.

The United States have been depleted by the late withdrawal of world number three Jessica Pegula, who lost all of her matches at the WTA Finals.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina leads Kazakhstan and world No. 12 Paula Badosa is Spain’s top-ranked player.

Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez lead the Canadian team while Czech Republic have strength with top doubles pairing Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, as well as two-time Grand Slam finalist Karolina Pliskova.

Britain will be without their number one player Emma Radacanu, the 2021 US Open champion, as she is continuing to recover from a wrist injury.

British number two Harriet Dart will lead the team in singles alongside Heather Watson and Katie Boulter.