Muguruza's latest retirement could cost her No. 1

It’s been a year of highs and lows for Garbine Muguruza, but a first-round loss at the China Open might cost her the No. 1 ranking. In her opening round, the Spaniard retired while down 6-1, 2-0 against world No. 29 Barbora Strycova and was booed off the court by Beijing’s disappointed spectators.

It’s the fifth time in 2017 that Muguruza has retired from a match, and four of them have been at WTA Premier tournaments.

The 23-year-old explained that she hoped to play through a virus that she picked up in Wuhan last week.

Two days earlier, tennis reporter and author Carole Bouchard noted that Muguruza was not doing well and the recovery time was not enough to compete at her best against Strycova.

Is Muguruza burdened by the No. 1 ranking? She has won only four of seven matches since the US Open, and by Monday, she could be looking up at any of three rivals that have been nipping at her heels for No. 1.

Elina Svitolina could claim the top ranking if she wins the tournament. She’s the new favorite in the top of the bracket after Muguruza’s loss.

Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova are the biggest threats in the bottom of the bracket. If either of them makes the final and does not lose to Svitolina, she will No. 1. Pliskova held the honor for eight weeks before Muguruza, but Halep has missed out on multiple occasions when she’s needed just one more win.

Halep got revenge over Maria Sharapova with a 6-2, 6-2 win on Wednesday, while Svitolina eased past Ashleigh Barty.

Meanwhile, Muguruza will be resting and recovering for the WTA Finals in Singapore where the year-end No. 1 ranking is on the line.