Tennis-Swiatek loses last chance to qualify for WTA Finals after withdrawing from Ningbo

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 played at every ‌edition of the Finals since 2021 and won the event in 2023, had to reach at least the quarter-finals in Ningbo to have any chance of displacing ‌Czech Karolina Muchova in the last qualifying place.

Swiatek was hampered by the ‌injury in her 7-5 6-1 loss to compatriot Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open semi-finals last week. She has won only one tournament this year and failed to advance beyond ⁠the ​quarters at any of ⁠the four Grand Slams. "After careful consideration, I've decided to withdraw from the tournament," the 25-year-old ⁠said in a statement 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 is ⁠not ​competing at the WTA 500 tournament in China, can still be overtaken by Marta Kostyuk. The Ukrainian has to make up 815 points ⁠at the Ningbo event and next week's Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

While Swiatek is ⁠unable to qualify ⁠directly for the November 8-15 WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, she could go to the event as one ‌of two ‌alternates.