Right after withdrawing from the Ningbo Open with a thigh injury, Iga Swiatek has announced an early end to her season. The decision comes after she missed out on qualifying for the WTA Finals for the first time since 2019, capping what she described as “one of the most demanding” seasons of her career.
In her recent Wuhan Open semifinal against eventual champion Maja Chwalinska, Swiatek struggled with a painful left thigh injury and battled to get through the match. Given the severity of the issue, her decision to sit out the remainder of the season comes as little surprise. The extended break should give the Pole a much-needed opportunity to recover after an exceptionally demanding couple of years.
Although 2026 marked Swiatek’s first season without a Grand Slam title since 2021, and she has slipped to No. 9 in the rankings, the former world No. 1 remains positive about her progress and is already looking ahead to next season. “I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done in the second half of the year and the progress that came with it. It gives me a lot of confidence in what’s ahead,” the 25-year-old said.
The only title Swiatek won in 2026 was the Canadian Open in August.
