Injury-hit Iga Swiatek’s French Open title defence on knife edge

World No 1 pulls out of Italian Open quarterfinals with thigh injury

Last updated: May 18, 2023 | 21:42

1 MIN READ

Poland's Iga Swiatek retires from her quarterfinal match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina due to injury.

Reuters

Paris: French Open champion Iga Swiatek says she will know in the coming days how serious her thigh injury is and whether she can defend her title at Roland Garros, which gets underway on Sunday week.

The 21-year-old world No 1 retired from Wednesday’s Italian Open quarterfinal with Kazakhstan’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Delicately poised

The match was delicately poised at one set apiece and 2-2 in the decider when the two-time defending champion felt unable to continue.

“We’re checking it (the injury),” tweeted the Polish star, who also won the French Open in 2020.

World No 1 Swiatek continued to play with injury before deciding to pull out in the decider when the scores were 2-2.

More information

“During the second set I got a thigh injury. The diagnostic is in progress.

“More info in the following days. Will keep you updated.”

Swiatek, the reigning US Open champion, had roared through the first set but after receiving treatment she called a halt.

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