May 19, (THEWILL) – Iga Swiatek, the defending champion of the French Open, is poised to begin her title defence next week, despite retiring from her quarter-final match at the Italian Open due to a thigh injury.
Her withdrawal raised doubts about her participation in the second Grand Slam of the year as she pulled out during the third set of her encounter with Elena Rybakina. However, allaying concerns, the current world number one has expressed confidence in her fitness to compete in Paris.
“We conducted an examination with the physio afterwards,” Swiatek stated. “It shouldn’t be anything serious, so I’m quite optimistic that I’ll be back soon.” Reflecting on her decision to withdraw in Rome, she acknowledged feeling tired and highlighted the importance of prioritising her physical well-being, particularly after a demanding schedule.
Swiatek added, “For me, the most important thing is to play it safe and not push my body excessively, especially under such challenging conditions, following a few matches played during night sessions and after midnight.” The three-time major champion, who was riding a 14-match winning streak in Rome, was eager to secure her third consecutive Italian Open title before retiring from the match.
Swiatek is expected to commence her Roland-Garros defense on Sunday, May 28, when the main draw action begins. The Polish star also took to social media to inform her followers of her intention to compete, posting a positive message on Twitter, “A couple of days off for sure. And booking my flight to Paris, so fingers crossed, please.” In last year’s tournament, Swiatek triumphed over Coco Gauff in a dominant fashion, securing a 6-1, 6-3 victory to claim her second French Open title.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
