Title: Iga Swiatek Withdraws from Madrid Open Due to Illness During Round-of-32 Match Against Ann Li

Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Madrid Open due to an unspecified illness while playing her round-of-32 match against American Ann Li on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The decision came during the third set of their encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open, with Swiatek trailing 0-3, 0-30 when she called for medical assistance and ultimately retired from the match. The withdrawal marked a surprising end to the Polish star’s campaign at the clay-court WTA 1000 event, where she had been seeking to defend her title from the previous year.

The match began with Swiatek dropping the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6(4), after Li saved two set points at 5-6 before closing it out with three consecutive points. Swiatek responded strongly in the second set, breaking Li early and racing to a 4-0 lead en route to a 6-2 victory that forced a decider. However, her energy appeared to fade in the third set, where she struggled with her movement and shot accuracy. After holding serve to open the set, Swiatek was broken to love in the second game and then again to love in the fourth, falling behind 0-3. It was at 0-30 in Li’s service game that Swiatek summoned the trainer and later the doctor, leading to her retirement shortly thereafter.

Ann Li secured the victory with a score of 7-6(4), 2-6, 3-0 retired, earning her first Top 10 win since defeating Anett Kontaveit at the 2022 Miami Open. The result represented Li’s best performance at a WTA 1000 event to date, advancing her to the Round of 16 in Madrid. For Swiatek, the withdrawal continued a tricky spring on clay, where she had failed to win more than one match in the two tournaments she had played leading up to Madrid. Her record stood at 14-8 for the season with no titles captured, and she remained ranked world No. 4 in the WTA rankings despite the loss of ranking points from her early exit.

Swiatek’s withdrawal drew attention not only for the timing but also for the context of her recent form. The six-time Grand Slam champion had not won a title since the 2024 season and had struggled to replicate her dominance on clay, a surface where she had previously been nearly untouchable. Her inability to finish matches in recent weeks had raised questions about her physical conditioning and resilience during the extended European clay court swing. Observers noted that she had appeared fatigued even during her second-set win, which she completed in just 39 minutes—a sign of brief bursts of excellence rather than sustained endurance.

Medical staff attended to Swiatek on court before she walked off, shaking hands with Li and the chair umpire before leaving in tears. No official diagnosis was provided at the time of her withdrawal, with tournament officials describing the issue only as an “unspecified illness.” Swiatek did not speak to the press immediately after the match, and her team released no further details regarding her condition or expected timeline for return to competition.

The Mutua Madrid Open continued without Swiatek, joining other high-profile absences in the draw that included Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who had withdrawn earlier in the week citing injuries. With the top seeds diminished, the tournament opened opportunities for other players to make deep runs, including Li, who now faced a tougher test in the next round against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

As of the latest updates, Swiatek has not issued a public statement about her health or her plans for the remainder of the clay court season. Her next scheduled appearance is expected to be at the Italian Open in Rome, set to initiate in early May 2026, though her participation remains uncertain pending recovery. Fans and analysts alike are awaiting official word from her coaching staff or the WTA regarding her status.

For ongoing coverage of the Madrid Open and updates on Iga Swiatek’s condition, readers are encouraged to follow the WTA’s official website and verified sports news outlets. Share your thoughts on this developing story in the comments below, and help spread awareness by sharing this article with fellow tennis enthusiasts.