Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Madrid Open due to an unspecified illness although playing her round-of-32 match against American Ann Li on Thursday afternoon.
The world No. 2 was trailing 6-4, 2-0 when she called for the trainer and ultimately decided to retire from the match at the Manolo Santana stadium in Madrid, Spain.
According to ESPN, Swiatek appeared to struggle physically during the second set, taking multiple medical timeouts before making the difficult decision to end her participation in the WTA 1000 event.
The Polish star had advanced to the third round earlier in the week after defeating Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 in just over one hour of play.
That victory over Snigur had seen Swiatek display her typically dominant form, sending a clear message to her WTA rivals about her readiness for the clay-court season.
However, her campaign took an abrupt turn when she faced Li, who was playing with renewed confidence after recent strong performances on the European clay circuit.
The match began with Swiatek dropping the first set 6-4, breaking serve only once while Li capitalized on several unforced errors from the Pole.
Early in the second set, Swiatek called for medical attention after losing her serve to fall behind 2-0, visibly distressed and struggling to maintain her usual intensity.
After a brief consultation with her team and tournament medical staff, Swiatek made the decision to withdraw, citing illness as the reason for her retirement.
The specific nature of her ailment was not disclosed by tournament officials or her representatives, maintaining privacy around her health status.
Li advanced to the round of 16 by default, setting up a potential clash with either Elise Mertens or Tamara Zidansek depending on the outcome of their match.
Swiatek’s withdrawal marks an unexpected end to her Madrid Open campaign, where she had been considered one of the top contenders for the title.
The two-time French Open champion had arrived in Spain with high hopes of adding another WTA 1000 title to her growing resume on the red clay.
Her early exit opens up the draw significantly, particularly in the top half where several other seeded players remain in contention for the championship.
For Swiatek, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the upcoming Italian Open in Rome, another crucial WTA 1000 event on the European clay swing.
The tennis world will be watching closely to notice how quickly she can bounce back from this unexpected health setback during what has been a strong start to her 2026 season.
As of Friday morning, no official timeline has been provided for her return to competition, with her team prioritizing her health and well-being above all else.
Fans and followers are encouraged to check official WTA channels and Swiatek’s verified social media accounts for the latest updates on her condition and future tournament plans.
