Iga Swiatek’s chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals dropped dramatically after she suffered a shocking defeat in the Wuhan Open semifinals.
The Pole fell to fellow compatriot Maja Chwalinska in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1, while dealing with a left leg injury that ultimately derailed her. Swiatek was in control in the first set, leading 5-3 and creating two set points, but began to struggle physically, allowing Chwalinska back into the contest.
After receiving a medical timeout, Swiatek continued the match with a bandage on her left thigh, but couldn’t keep up with French Open runner-up Chwalinska, who will take on Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the final.
Iga Swiatek speaks after loss to Maja Chwalinska in Wuhan
With Elina Svitolina becoming the seventh player to qualify for the WTA Finals, there is just one spot left, which is currently occupied by Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova. Muchova, who has 4,735 live points in the race to the WTA Finals, is not due to compete at the Ningbo Open, one of the two WTA 500 events left in the season, along with the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Swiatek, on 4,189 live points, is scheduled to enter the Ningbo Open and is battling with Marta Kostyuk for Muchova’s spot. If Muchova does not feature at the Pan Pacific Open, Kostyuk, with 3,920 live points to her name, would have to win both titles in Ningbo and Tokyo to give herself a chance of qualifying.
Swiatek, on the other hand, would have to either win the title in Ningbo and reach the quarterfinals in Tokyo, or make the final at both tournaments. Again, that relies on Muchova missing Tokyo.
Asked about her chances of qualification in a press conference following the loss to Chwalinska, Swiatek said: “Well, you know, it would be great to get it over with, but it’s okay. Like, this is the result of the whole season, and I can’t expect that in my tournament I’m gonna, you know, just get in and you know, it’s a result of not being able to play in Madrid, like losing first round in Miami, like losing some matches that maybe I shouldn’t have, so you know, just a little bit more.
“I’m for sure motivated. I feel like I’m playing good and it’s been a good week. I feel like I’m hitting the ball good, so I’ll play, I’ll rest, and I’ll go to Ningbo and see how it goes. But honestly, it doesn’t matter. I can also go on a longer vacation.”
Iga Swiatek’s physio explains why she didn’t retire in Wuhan
Responding to a fan on X who asked why Swiatek was being pushed to continue, the six-time major champion’s physio, Maciej Ryszczuk, gave an explanation. “I told her three times to stop the match because it’s bad for her health,” he said.
“She made the decision herself to continue playing, and since she made that one, I support her as much as I can.”
As well as the two WTA 500 tournaments in Ningbo and Tokyo, there are two WTA 250 events Swiatek could enter right before the WTA Finals in Chennai and Hong Kong. The WTA Finals begin on the eighth of November and run through to the 15th.