Iga Swiatek withdraws from Ningbo with Thigh Injury, misses WTA Finals
Iga Swiatek will miss the 2026 WTA Finals after withdrawing from the Ningbo Open with a persistent left thigh injury. This ends her hopes of reaching the season-ending championship.
The Polish star announced her withdrawal on Tuesday, October 20, explaining that she had been dealing with the problem for several weeks and needed to prioritise her recovery.
“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw from the tournament. 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,” Swiatek said.
The six-time Grand Slam champion also thanked the tournament organisers and fans who had been looking forward to watching her compete in Ningbo, adding that she hoped to return next year.
The withdrawal is a setback for Swiatek, who needed a strong result in Ningbo to keep her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals alive. She needed to reach at least the quarter-finals to overtake Karolina Muchova in the race for the final qualifying spot.
However, with her withdrawal, Swiatek can no longer qualify directly for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15.
The injury had already affected her during last week’s Wuhan Open. Swiatek reached the semi-finals but struggled against compatriot Maja Chwalinska, eventually losing 7-5, 6-1.
Swiatek’s 2026 campaign has been challenging by her usual standards. Although she won the Canadian Open in August, she failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments this season.
