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The 2023 Wimbledon is just around the corner and the women’s 2023 French Open champion and world number 1 Iga Swiatek is one of the main favourites for the ladies’ title this year, despite her dismal record on grass. The 4-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek has never even reached a final on grass in her career, she hasn’t been past round 4 at Wimbledon either. Still, the bookies fancied her as the potential winner in London this time around due to her excellent form so far in 2023.
Swiatek looked in great form and she just reached her first-ever semifinal on grass surface in Bad Homburg. Then Friday morning, just a few days before the start of the 2023 Wimbledon Swiatek withdrew from her Bad Homburg semifinal for health reasons. Here’s what we know and what we expect.
Why Iga Swiatek retired from Bad Homburg?
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Iga Swiatek was impressive on the way to her 3rd Roland Garros title just a month ago. She then transported this form to Bad Homburg and her warm-up grass even ahead of Wimbledon. Swiatek won her first 3 matches on grass of the year easily and she reached her first-ever grass court semifinal in style after recording 10 consecutive wins on the Tour.
The stage looked set for the world number 1 to make her first grass court semifinal with a relatively easy rival in the semis at Bad Homburg on Friday. However, in the morning of her Bad Homburg semifinal, Swiatek made an announcement that she can’t play and is retiring from the tournament. She cited health reasons for that and here is what we know.
Latest update on Iga Swiatek’s health status
At 10:00 am CET Iga Swiatek was scheduled to go to the training court and start warming up for her first-ever grass court semifinal. Instead, the world number 1 issued an official statement and stunned the fans and the organisers after announcing she is retiring from the WTA250 Bad Homburg event due to health reasons.
Here is what Swiatek said exactly: “I’m so sorry but I have to pull out of my match today. I had a restless night because of some fever and possible food poisoning. I’m not able to perform today and I need to take care of myself. I hope I’ll be fine soon. Your support in Bad Homburg was amazing, thank you.”
This announcement only 3 days before Wimbledon begins is worrying. Swiatek clearly battles a double whammy if she really has a food poisoning issue on top of fever symptoms. The Pole is a fighter and she still has enough days to get over these problems but this is certainly not how she hoped to enter the 3rd Grand Slam of the year.
Could Swiatek be forced to miss Wimbledon?
We sincerely hope that the world number 1 Iga Swiatek will be able to play at Wimbledon. We believe that with the help of some medications, she will control her fever by 03rd July when the Grand Slam begins. There is slightly greater concern regarding the food poisoning Swiatek mentioned. Any minor discomfort should be well past her come next week. However, a more serious food poisoning usually takes 5-7 days to clear and this is what might put Swiatek’s Wimbledon dream in jeopardy.
Our hopes are that the Pole will overcome her health problems quickly and take her place in the main draw of Wimbledon as expected.
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