Iga Swiatek retired from her third-round match at the Madrid Open due to illness.
Trailing Ann Li 3-0 in the deciding set, Swiatek retired from a match for the first time since the 2023 Italian Open.
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Preparing for this year’s Italian Open, Swiatek has provided a fresh fitness update.
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During her pre-Italian Open press conference, Swiatek was asked about her recovery from illness.
“Yeah, my Madrid tournament was tough,” she said.
“It was really, like, s—-, literally!
“So yeah, I was completely off, like, day before the match.
Iga Swiatek at the 2026 Madrid Open
- 2R [WIN] vs Daria Snigur, 6-1, 6-2
- 3R [LOSS] vs Ann Li, 6-7, 6-2, 0-3 (RET)
“The day I played, I was also not good, like no energy at all.
“Honestly, the day after it was a bit better, but still, I don’t think I would be able to play normally.
“But in two days, I was already fine.
“I recovered.
“I had some time to stay there and not really travel because I don’t think it’s safe to travel when you’re so, like, fragile.
“Then I came here and I was able to practice fully from the beginning 100%.
“Quickly I was back.
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“It was really unfortunate timing. Honestly, yeah, many players got sick, so I don’t think there was anything we could do to avoid it.”
Now fully fit, Swiatek will be determined to bounce back in Rome.
Can Iga Swiatek challenge for the Italian Open title?
No active player has enjoyed more success at the Italian Open than Swiatek.
Italian Open titles among active WTA players
- 1. Iga Swiatek – 3 (2021, 2022, 2024)
- 2. Elina Svitolina – 2 (2017, 2018)
- T-3. Jasmine Paolini – 1 (2025)
- T-3. Elena Rybakina – 1 (2023)
- T-3. Karolina Pliskova – 1 (2019)
- T-3. Venus Williams – 1 (1999)
The Pole is a former three-time champion, although she struggled a year ago.
Swiatek lost to her rival, Danielle Collins, in the third round.
She’ll be keen to make a deeper run in 2026, entering the competition as the fourth seed.
Receiving a bye into the second round, Swiatek will play Daria Kasatkina or Caty McNally.
A heavy favourite against both players, she should advance to take on Emma Navarro, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, or a qualifier/lucky loser in the third round.
Then, in the fourth round, Swiatek could play four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Swiatek shouldn’t have too much trouble reaching the quarter-finals, something she’s done on four of her six visits to the Italian capital.
However, it’s in the quarter-finals that the opposition could really test the 24-year-old.
She could meet Jessica Pegula, who has been one of the best players in women’s tennis this year.
Live WTA Race
| Rank | Name | Country | 2026 Points | 2026 Titles |
| 1 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan | 4,113 | 2 (Australian Open, Stuttgart Open) |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Belarus | 4,025 | 3 (Brisbane International, Indian Wells, Miami Open) |
| 3 | Jessica Pegula | USA | 2,980 | 2 (Dubai Tennis Championships, Charleston Open) |
| 4 | Mirra Andreeva | Russia | 2,723 | 2 (Adelaide International, Linz Open) |
| 5 | Elina Svitolina | Ukraine | 2,470 | 1 (ASB Classic) |
| 6 | Karolina Muchova | Czechia | 2,280 | 1 (Qatar Open) |
| 7 | Victoria Mboko | Canada | 1,947 | 0 |
| 8 | Coco Gauff | USA | 1,933 | 0 |
| 9 | Marta Kostyuk | Ukraine | 1,725 | 1 (Open de Rouen, Madrid Open) |
| 10 | Belinda Bencic | Switzerland | 1,317 | 0 |
| 11 | Iga Swiatek | Poland | 1,203 | 0 |
| 12 | Iva Jovic | USA | 1,186 | 0 |
| 13 | Amanda Anisimova | USA | 1,140 | 0 |
| 14 | Linda Noskova | Czechia | 1,053 | 0 |
| 15 | Sorana Cirstea | Romania | 1,045 | 1 (Transylvania Open) |
Swiatek will need to be at her best to beat Pegula, but the challenges won’t end there.
She could then play Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals and Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
If Swiatek is going to win her fourth Italian Open title in 2026, she will need to find a level she has yet to produce this year.
Many hoped Swiatek would rediscover the form that once saw her dominate on the clay-courts when she replaced Wim Fissette with Rafael Nadal’s former coach, Francisco Roig.
But since hiring the Spaniard, Swiatek has only won two matches.
Iga Swiatek’s record since changing coaches (2-2)
- Stuttgart Open 2R [WIN] vs Laura Siegemund, 6-2, 6-3
- Stuttgart Open QF [LOSS] vs Mirra Andreeva, 6-3, 4-6, 3-6
- Madrid Open 2R [WIN] vs Daria Snigur, 6-1, 6-2
- Madrid Open 3R [LOSS] vs Ann Li, 6-7, 6-2, 0-3 (RET)
Will her fortunes change in Rome? Only time will tell.
Swiatek will play Kasatkina or McNally in the second round later this week.
