Iga Swiatek has struggled to produce her best tennis since reaching the Cincinnati Open semi-finals in August.
The Polish star enjoyed a fruitful summer, also winning the Canadian Open title.
However, her form has dipped since the start of September, evidenced by surprise losses to Qinwen Zheng and Elise Mertens at the China Open, respectively.
The Polish star, a winner of seven Grand Slam titles, will hope to reignite her 2026 campaign at the calendar’s final WTA 1000 event in Wuhan, China.
Swiatek’s chances of doing so have increased exponentially following the withdrawals of four players.
Wuhan Open withdrawals open up opportunity for Iga Swiatek
Qinwen Zheng, Mirra Andreeva, Linda Noskova and Oleksandra Oliynkova have all withdrawn from the Wuhan Open in recent days.
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Zheng and Andreeva, who contested the China Open final on Sunday, both confirmed their absences from the Wuhan event on Monday morning.
“Since returning from injury, however, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open,” Zheng, the China Open champion, said in a statement. “My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches.”
These withdrawals have resulted in three lucky losers entering Swiatek’s section of the Wuhan Open draw.
Wuhan Open withdrawals
- Qinwen Zheng – right shoulder injury
- Mirra Andreeva – change of schedule
- Linda Noskova – left calf injury
- Oleksandra Oliynkova – right ankle injury
- Anna Kalinskaya – illness
Camila Osorio, Lanlana Tararudee, Magdalena Frech, Ashlyn Krueger and Anna Bondar have all entered the Wuhan Open as lucky losers, with Tararudee, Frech and Krueger all entering Swiatek’s section.
Tararudee has already advanced to the Wuhan Open second round after defeating French player Diane Parry in straight sets. She will face the winner of Krueger and Shuai Zhang.
Frech has also advanced to the second round, after overcoming the challenge of Manachaya Sawangkaew.
If Swiatek were to defeat Frech in the second round, she would play either Tararudee, Zhang or Krueger in round three.
A potential clash with Aryna Sabalenka awaits Iga Swiatek in Wuhan
If Swiatek advances to the quarter-finals in Wuhan, she will likely play former world number one and four-time major singles champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, who recently surrendered the world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina, will play Ann Li or Camila Osorio in her second-round match.
Swiatek has an 8-5 record against Sabalenka but has lost to the Belarusian in their last two matches on the Tour.
The pair last met at the 2025 French Open, with Sabalenka claiming a 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 victory in the semi-finals.
Sabalenka went on to lose to Coco Gauff in the final.
