Iga Swiatek falls short of Wuhan final to Polish compatriot due to injury

 

Maja Chwalinska reached her first WTA 1000 final with a straight-sets victory over Iga Swiatek in an all-Polish semifinal at the Dongfeng • Voyah Wuhan Open on Saturday. Chwalinska will face Great Britain's Sonay Kartal in Sunday's final, with both players bidding for the biggest titles of their careers.

Although Chwalinska was the first to break serve in the opening set, Swiatek consolidated a break of her own to take a 5-3 lead. Chwalinska saved two set points in the ninth game, after which Swiatek took a medical timeout to address a leg injury.

The former world No. 1 appeared hampered by the injury after returning to the court, as Chwalinska won 10 of the next 11 games to complete a 7-5, 6-1 victory in two hours, eight minutes.

The win levels the head-to-head record between the two countrywomen at 1-1, after Swiatek won their only previous meeting at an ITF event in Stockholm in 2016.

"From the beginning of the tournament, I kind of felt pain in my quad," Swiatek said in her post-match press conference. "I've been able to manage that day by day and we were already thinking of withdrawing after I played with Magda in the first round but I was quite able to play normal, so I wanted to push, and we knew that it's nothing like that it's gonna get worse or something, so in that case, you just need to block it out. But today was just too much, and that's unfortunate because I felt like we're playing great tennis and wanted to continue. Later on, I knew it's going to be tough to win, but I didn't want to honestly retire because wanted Maja to win it normally."

"It was such a physical match, especially the first set," Chwalinska said after the match. "She had set points, so it was very close to lose this one. I feel like what I did well is I really fought for every single ball and I could, I mean, I ran to everything I could. So I think that was crucial because I made her like, she had to put extra effort. i really hope she's going to be okay soon and hope she will qualify (for the WTA Finals)."

wtatennis.com

It's rare that I feel truly conflicted after a match. On the one hand I'm extremely happy for Maja and all the success she's having (proving that her game translates just as well to the hard court as 

on clay). 

On the other I'm completely heartbroken for Iga who has been giving it her all this week. Despite feeling ill and as it turns out carrying a bit of an injury since the beginning of the tournament.  

Even thinking about withdrawing after the 2nd round but deciding to push through the pain anyway.  Shows what a competitor she is something that often goes underappreciated. 

Today her body just couldn't give anymore. 

The first set was actually quite enjoyable, but towards the end it was evident she was hurt and just couldn't move the same. 

Started bailing out of rallies with dropshots (which were actually quite effective and she should consider using them more next year).  

Watching her lying down on a towel in tears while waiting for the physio in clear physical pain was so tough. 

You could tell she was in quite a bit of discomfort. Some of it was probably also frustration at wanting to keep going but her body not co-operating. 

Just upsetting to see as a fan honestly. 

Clearly the only reason she didn't retire after the first set was because she wanted her best friend to have the full win. Huge respect. 

Iga has only ever retired from a match 3 times in her career. 

With this loss qualifying for the WTA Finals will get significantly tougher as she'll probably have to play 2 500s in 2 different countries to actually still have a shot. 

Some of it may depend on whether Karolina Muchova decides to play or not. 

Personally as much as I would love to see more of Iga's game all the way to the end of the season, I'm not so sure killing herself for it and risking a bad  injury would be all that worth it. 

What would even be the point of getting there if you're not a hundred percent, it's the one tournament you really have to be if you want to beat the top 7 players of the year. 

I want to see Iga play but I'd rather watch her at her best not limping to the finish in every match. 

Playing ugly just to win is not enjoyable for me, and it's not for someone of Iga's caliber who's capable of so much more when fully healthy.

I totally get ending the season on a high, winning matches and going into next season with confidence. 

But there's also something to be said for realizing it'd be wiser to let your body rest, and give yourself time to go all guns blazing training for 2027.

Obviously ultimately it's all up to Iga and her team and I'll be fine with whatever that choice will be. I just really want Iga to thrive next year. 

Let's see what happens over the next few weeks. Wishing Iga a speedy recovery and energy for whatever she decides to do.

Jazda!.