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World no 1, Iga Swiatek is taking time off from tennis, revealing his persistent battle with injury. The news comes ahead of her Miami Open bout with Claire Liu.
Swiatek revealed that she has been under the weather since her participation in Doha a month back. She played with the infection but it has now led to a rib injury. The Polish star’s team is now managing the issue as they put her health before her competitive commitments.
🎾 It was a very difficult decision to make but I have no doubts that health is the most important. ⤵️
🎾 To była naprawdę bardzo trudna decyzja, ale nie mam wątpliwości, że zdrowie jest absolutnie najważniejsze. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/HjBqrANmy0
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) March 22, 2023
Swiatek’s statement read: “You know that in and after Doha I was struggling with a strong infection. I was allowed to play, but a strong episode of a tough cough led to a rib injury. We were trying to handle it and continue to play as long as it was safe for me.
“We were analyzing the data in the last days and my doctor prepared my diagnosis. Unfortunately, I’m still feeling a lot of discomfort and pain and I can’t compete. I need to take a break to recover and I have to pull out of the Miami Open and Billie Jean King Cup.
I will keep you updated about where I play next because it depends on my process of recovery and the recommendation of my medical team. I have the best team behind me, we only need some time to deal with the injury.
It’s a truly difficult call to not play in Miami and BJKC, but health is the most important… I’m grateful this is the first issue in a long time and I was able to compete in perfect share for so long, but that’s sports, it happens sometimes, without our control… Time to accept it and get well as soon as possible.”
Likely return date?
Despite her injuries, Swiatek ran rampant on the WTA circuit. After her triumph in Doha, she made it to the final of the WTA Dubai and succumbed to 13th-ranked Barbora Krejcikova.
In the first leg of the Sunset Double, the three-time Grand slam winner continued to fire at all cylinders. It required an exceptional Elena Rybakina to stop her at Indian Wells as she had torn through the like of Emma Raducanu to reach the semi-finals.
A return date was not shared as the team are still analyzing her condition. However, it seems likely that she will be back competing in the European leg of WTA competitions after mid-April. She can make her comeback at the Porsche Grand Prix, where nine of the top ten WTA-ranked players will fight for glory.
