Iga Swiatek’s Madrid Open run came to an abrupt end in the third round of the tournament.
In her first WTA 1000 campaign with Francisco Roig as her coach, Swiatek was forced to retire during a clash with Ann Li due to illness.
The Pole had split sets with the American, but after going down 3-0 in the decider, she felt the need to call a halt to the contest.
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Swiatek enjoyed a strong start to the Madrid Open after a disappointing stint in Stuttgart, having won her opening match against Daria Snigur convincingly.
But the six-time major champion could not battle through her illness, which she addressed on social media.
Iga Swiatek looks ahead to Italian Open after retiring in Madrid
Two days after pulling out of the 2026 Madrid Open, Swiatek took to Instagram to say: “What can I say? It was a real rough day.
“It stings not having full control over my performance or being in charge of every decision.
“Today is a bit better, and I’ll take the next day or two to recover fully. Then we’ll push forward with more hard work.
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“I’m pretty excited for the next one in Rome,” concluded the 24-year-old, who is a three-time champion at the upcoming Italian Open.
Swiatek has clinched three titles in Rome since 2021, but last year she was knocked out in the third round by Danielle Collins.
Iga Swiatek’s chance to climb the rankings at the Italian Open
Swiatek, who started the year second in the world, is currently ranked fourth after a poor start to the season.
But she is only a mere six WTA points behind Coco Gauff in third, a gap she can close easily at the Italian Open.
Gauff is defending 650 points in Rome after reaching the final there last year, while Swiatek is only protecting 65.
With a lengthy campaign in the Eternal City, Swiatek can put pressure on Gauff and potentially rise to third in the world once again.
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