Iga Swiatek Withdraws from Madrid Open Due to Illness

Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, retired from her Madrid Open match against Ann Li due to illness. The champion attributed her withdrawal to a suspected virus, impacting her preparations for the upcoming French Open, where she has historically performed well.

Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, had to bow out of her round-of-32 match against Ann Li at the Madrid Open due to an illness, trailing at 6-7(4) 6-2 0-3. Tearful and seeking medical assistance, Swiatek's health visibly deteriorated on the court.

Swiatek disclosed that she might be battling a virus, which prompted her to abandon the match despite trying to persevere. 'It's been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad,' the player noted about her fluctuating condition, which left her with zero energy and stability.

This health setback comes as a blow to Swiatek's preparations for the French Open, where she seeks to defend her title. Nonetheless, she is expected to continue her schedule and compete in the Italian Open as part of her build-up to Roland Garros.