MADRID : Six-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek retired from her third-round match at the Madrid Open on Saturday due to illness, trailing American Ann Li 6-7(4) 6-2 0-3.
The fourth seed left the court in tears after calling for medical assistance during the match.
“The past two days were pretty terrible, I think I have some virus,” Swiatek said. “It’s been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I had zero energy, zero stability, and I just felt really bad physically.
“I knew that it was going to be hard but I still wanted to try… I guess this time it was worse than before.”
Swiatek’s withdrawal is a setback ahead of the French Open, which she has won four times, including last year.
The 24-year-old is expected to continue her preparations at the Italian Open, scheduled for May 5-17, before Roland Garros begins on May 24.
