Iga Swiatek pulls out of the Madrid Open, cites injury worry

• Iga Swiatek stated that she needs a break to take care of her arm that has been under fatigue since the Miami Open
• The 20-year old world number one has been in a great form, she won 23 matches in a row and four titles consecutively
• Paula Badosa was the second seeded player before the world number one announced her withdrawal from the tournament

With Roland Garros approaching, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has decided to withdraw from the Madrid Open to rest a shoulder injury.

The newly crowned world number one won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart last week, her fourth tournament victory of the season.

Iga Swiatek won four titles consecutively. Photo: Skysports

Swiatek is on a 23-match win, with her most recent defeat coming in February at a WTA event in Dubai against Jelena Ostapenko.

The 20-year-old was expected to be the top seed in Madrid, the season’s first WTA Tour 1000 event on clay, and was set to face a qualifier on Friday.

However, with the French Open less than a month away, the 2021 Roland Garros champion has decided to take a break in order to fully recover.

“Unfortunately my team and I decided that I need to withdraw from Madrid. I hope to see you next year,” Swiatek revealed on Twitter.

“After intense last weeks and winning four titles in a row, it’s time to take care of my arm that has been fatigued since the Miami Open and I haven’t had a chance to handle it properly.

“I need a break from playing so intensively in order to treat my arm well and that’s why, unfortunately, I have to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open.

Iga Swiatek. The World no 1 has won 23 matches in a row Photo/Getty Images

“My body needs rest. I’m going to take some time to prepare for Rome and Paris. See you soon there.

“Hopefully, I will play in Madrid many times in the future – looking forward to it.”

Swiatek has won 30 of her last 31 sets, including victories over Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova, and, most recently, Aryna Sabalenka.

The Pole is on her best unbeaten run since joining the WTA Tour, but she still has a long way to go before matching Martina Navratilova’s Open Era record of 74 straight victories, which she set in 1984.

The second-seeded player in Madrid before Swiatek withdrew was Paula Badosa