The world’s top-ranked female tennis player, Iga Swiatek, has made the decision to withdraw from the ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin, Germany. This WTA 500 event is scheduled to commence on Monday, June 17th.
Just a week ago, Swiatek made history by becoming the youngest woman to win three consecutive Roland Garros singles titles. This remarkable achievement marked her third consecutive Hologic WTA Tour title and fifth for the season. Her outstanding victory concluded an almost flawless performance throughout the clay season, where she achieved a 21-1 record and an impressive 19 consecutive wins. This exceptional accomplishment also placed her alongside Serena Williams as the only two women to sweep the Madrid Open, Internazionali BNL d’Italia, and French Open in a single season.
Due to her recent physical and mental fatigue after an intense nine weeks, Swiatek issued a statement to the tournament explaining, “Unfortunately, I do need to withdraw from the tournament in Berlin in order to rest and recover.”
In addition to Swiatek’s withdrawal, French Open finalist Jasmine Paolini has also cited injury as the reason for her withdrawal from the tournament.
Despite these withdrawals, the ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin will still showcase eight of the current Top 10 players, including the likes of No.2 ranked Coco Gauff, No.3 Aryna Sabalenka, and the 2022 champion Ons Jabeur. Furthermore, former No.1s Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber have been granted main-draw wild cards for the event.
Swiatek’s next tournament is currently set for Wimbledon, where she reached the quarterfinals last year. The renowned tournament is scheduled to kick off on July 1st.
Overall, the withdrawal of Iga Swiatek from the ecotrans Ladies Open serves as a reminder of the physical and mental demands on professional athletes. It also presents an opportunity for other players to shine in her absence. Despite her absence, fans in Berlin and across the globe eagerly await Swiatek’s return and hope to see her back in top form for Wimbledon.
With the strength of the remaining field, the tournament in Berlin promises to be an exciting and memorable event for all tennis enthusiasts.