Iga Swiatek advanced to the China Open fourth round on Monday after her third-round opponent withdrew during their match.
Swiatek was leading Camila Osorio 6-0 when the Colombian was forced to retire due to a thigh injury.
The Pole’s run in Beijing – following a stellar Korea Open campaign – has strengthened her chase of Aryna Sabalenka in the race for the year-end world number one spot.
Swiatek’s victory over Osorio marked another record-breaking day for the Polish star, who also made history during an earlier victory against Yue Yuan.
Iga Swiatek becomes the first player to win their first eight matches in the China Open
Iga Swiatek’s capacity for breaking tennis records is rather remarkable, and she did so again on Monday.
As per OptaAce, Swiatek has become the first player to win all her first eight matches in the China Open Women’s Singles since the tournament’s inception in 2004.
In fact, as Portuguese tennis journalist Jose Morgado notes, Swiatek has never lost a match at the China Open.
As Morgado points out, Swiatek never played the China Open before the Covid-19 pandemic, and was unable to defend her 2023 title due to her suspension from the sport in 2024.
The Wimbledon champion will face Emma Navarro next in China. Navarro won her third-round contest against Lois Boisson after the French star also retired injured.
Swiatek and Navarro have faced off twice before, with Swiatek emerging victorious on both occasions.
Most recently, Swiatek romped to victory over Navarro at the 2025 Australian Open, winning 6-1, 6-2.
Swiatek’s 2023 China Open title
In 2023, Iga Swiatek dropped just one set on her way to the China Open title.
The Pole comfortably defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo, Varvara Gracheva and Magda Linette in her first three rounds, before coming through a tough contest against recently retired French star Caroline Garcia.
American superstar Coco Gauff awaited Swiatek in the semi-finals. However, the 24-year-old Wimbledon champion was rarely troubled against Gauff, winning 6-2, 6-3.
Swiatek faced Russian 26-year-old Liudmila Samsonova in the final, whom she beat 6-2, 6-2.
