Defending champion Iga Swiatek withdraws from Beijing due to ‘personal matters’

The withdrawal is Swiatek’s second in as many weeks from tournaments she was entered to play following the US Open

World No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek will not compete in next week’s China Open due to “personal matters,” it was announced on Friday.

The withdrawal is Swiatek’s second in as many weeks from tournaments she was entered to play following the US Open, where she was beaten in the quarterfinals by eventual finalist Jessica Pegula. She withdrew from this week’s WTA 500 in Seoul, which also suffered from pre-event withdrawals by 2023 winner Pegula and Elena Rybakina, citing fatigue.

Swiatek won her sixth career WTA 1000 title in Beijing last year, in what was her tournament debut. She defeated, among others, Carolina Garcia and then-reigning US Open winner Coco Gauff, ending the latter’s 16-match winning streak, to reach the final last year, in which she topped Liudmila Samsonova.

“Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing,” Swiatek said in a statement. “I’m very sorry as I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year and was really looking forward to being back there.

“I know that the fans will experience great tennis there and I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it this time.”