Defending champion Iga Swiatek withdraws from Beijing due to 'personal matters'

World No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek will not compete in next week's China Open due to "personal matters," it was announced on Friday.

The withdrawal is Swiatek's second in as many weeks from tournaments she was entered to play following the US Open, where she was beaten in the quarterfinals by eventual finalist Jessica Pegula. She withdrew from this week's WTA 500 in Seoul, which also suffered from pre-event withdrawals by 2023 winner Pegula and Elena Rybakina, citing fatigue.

Swiatek won her sixth career WTA 1000 title in Beijing last year, in what was her tournament debut. She defeated, among others, Carolina Garcia and then-reigning US Open winner Coco Gauff, ending the latter's 16-match winning streak, to reach the final last year, in which she topped Liudmila Samsonova.

"Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing," Swiatek said in a statement. "I’m very sorry as I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year and was really looking forward to being back there.

"I know that the fans will experience great tennis there and I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it this time."

Swiatek had previously critiqued the length of the WTA tour's schedule this year, calling it "exhausting," and advocating for the relaxation of tournaments that players are required to enter. Beijing is one of 10 WTA 1000 tournaments on the tour calendar in 2024, the rung below the Grand Slams, which are mandatory for players to enter if they qualify directly by ranking.

In Cincinnati, she said the packed calendar, which this year also included the Olympics, makes "tennis less fun" for players.

"We deserve to rest a little bit more," she added, though when asked at the US Open about whether she would take an extended hiatus to "refresh," she balked at the idea.

"I don't think it would make sense. If you're out of tour, then it's pretty hard to come back," she said after losing in New York. "I don't want to take a break. It's tough. It could be a little bit easier, but I'm keeping up with the schedule. I'm only talking about mandatory tournaments and there are rules about mandatory tournaments. But I'm ready for playing [until] November, I guess, unless I'm going to get injured."

Seven of the WTA's Top 10 in the world rankings as of this week are expected to play in Beijing, including Australian Open and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, who will be the top seed. No. 9 Maria Sakkari joins Swiatek on the sidelines as a result of a continuing shoulder injury, and No. 10 Danielle Collins withdrew with illness.