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Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Withdraws from China Open for Personal Reasons

Tennis - WTA 500 - Ostrava Open - CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic - October 9, 2022 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during the singles final against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA 500 - Ostrava Open - CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic - October 9, 2022 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during the singles final against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova. (Reuters)
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Top-Ranked Iga Swiatek Withdraws from China Open for Personal Reasons

Tennis - WTA 500 - Ostrava Open - CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic - October 9, 2022 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during the singles final against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA 500 - Ostrava Open - CEZ Arena, Ostrava, Czech Republic - October 9, 2022 Poland's Iga Swiatek reacts during the singles final against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova. (Reuters)

World top-ranked and defending champion Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from next week’s China Open in Beijing, citing personal reasons.

Swiatek and the WTA Tour announced her withdrawal on Friday.

“Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing. 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,” Swiatek said. “I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it this time.”

Swiatek has won four of the previous eight WTA 1000-level events played this year but last competed in New York two weeks ago at the US Open, where she lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals.

Swiatek also withdrew from this week’s Korea Open in Seoul, citing fatigue.

Others to withdraw from the China Open are No. 9-ranked Maria Sakkari, with a continuing shoulder injury, and Danielle Collins, who has an illness.

US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be the top-seeded player in Beijing, a tournament at which she has reached the quarterfinals twice in three career appearances. US Open runner-up Pegula is expected to be seeded No. 2.

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Navarro Calls for Video Review Rule Change After Double Bounce in Defeat 

USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Navarro Calls for Video Review Rule Change After Double Bounce in Defeat 

USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
USA's Emma Navarro hits a return against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2025. (AFP)

Emma Navarro's split-second decision not to halt play after a double bounce in her Australian Open quarter-final loss to Iga Swiatek on Wednesday cost her a vital point and the American called for changes to the rules on the use of video reviews.

Navarro lost the match 6-1 6-2, with her fightback fading following a controversial moment at 2-2 in the second set, when Swiatek ran to the net and returned a low shot after the ball had bounced twice.

The incident was missed by the chair umpire and while the 23-year-old Navarro sought a video review immediately after losing the point she was informed by the official that it was too late as she had continued the rally.

"I think it (a video review) should be allowed after the point even if you play. It happened so fast. You hit the shot, and she hits it back, and you're just like 'Oh, I guess I'm playing'," Navarro told reporters.

"In the back of your head you're like, 'Okay, maybe I can still win the point even though it wasn't called'. It's going to be a downer if I stop the point and it turns out it wasn't a double bounce. Yeah, it's tough.

"I think we should be able to see it afterwards and make that call."

Swiatek, a five-times Grand Slam champion who is chasing her first Australian Open title, said it was the official's job to call double bounces.

"I wasn't sure if it was a double bounce or I hit it with my frame," Swiatek added.

"It was hard to say, because I was sprinting. I don't remember even seeing the contact point. Sometimes you don't really look when you hit the ball.

"I thought this is like the umpire's job to call it. I was also waiting for the (video review), but I didn't see it, so I proceeded. I was already focused on the next one."

It was not the first time Swiatek had benefited from a no-call on a double bounce at a Grand Slam with a similar incident occurring during her quarter-final win over Jessica Pegula in her triumphant 2022 French Open run.

Navarro shrugged off Wednesday's incident, saying it was not the only factor in her defeat.

"It is what it is, I guess," she added.

"It's tough to place blame on anybody. It's a tough call. I think the rules should be different."