Iga Swiatek is set to miss the season-ending WTA Finals after the six-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the Ningbo Open in China with a thigh injury on Tuesday.
The Pole, who has performed at each version of the Finals since 2021 and gained the occasion in 2023, had to attain at least the quarter-finals in Ningbo to have any probability of displacing Czech Karolina Muchova within the final qualifying place.
Swiatek was hampered by the injury in her 7-5, 6-1 loss to compatriot Maja Chwalinska within the Wuhan Open semi-finals final week. She has gained solely one match this yr and failed to advance past the quarters at any of the 4 Grand Slams.
“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw from the tournament,” the 25-year-old mentioned in a press release posted on the Ningbo Open’s social media.
“I’ve been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel that giving myself the time to rest and recover is the right decision.”
Muchova, who isn’t competing on the WTA 500 match in China, can nonetheless be overtaken by Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian has to make up 815 factors on the Ningbo occasion and subsequent week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
While Swiatek is unable to qualify instantly for the November 8-15 WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, she might go to the occasion as certainly one of two alternates.
