Iga Swiatek will miss the WTA Finals after the six-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the Ningbo Open in China on Tuesday due to a thigh injury.
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The Polish player, who has competed in every edition of the season-ending tournament since 2021 and won the title in 2023, needed to reach at least the quarterfinals in Ningbo to retain any chance of taking the final qualifying spot from Czech player Karolina Muchova.
Swiatek was affected by the injury during her 7-5, 6-1 defeat by compatriot Maya Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open semi-finals last Saturday.
Swiatek has won just one title this year and failed to reach the quarter-finals at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to withdraw from the tournament. I have been dealing with an ongoing issue with my left thigh for several weeks, and I believe giving myself time to rest and recover is the right decision,” the 25-year-old said in a statement posted on the Ningbo Open’s social media platforms.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk can still claim the final qualifying spot from Muchova, who will not compete at the WTA 500 event in China.
Kostyuk needs to earn at least 815 points from the Ningbo Open and next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Although Swiatek can no longer qualify automatically for the WTA Finals, scheduled to take place in Indian Wells, California, from November 8 to 15, she remains eligible to participate as one of the two alternates.
