Top-Ranked Swiatek Withdraws from Korea Open, Depleting Star Power
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from next week’s Korea Open, dealing a significant blow to the tournament’s hopes of attracting top-tier talent. Swiatek’s withdrawal comes just days after her participation was confirmed, citing fatigue following her quarterfinal loss at the US Open.
The absence of Swiatek, who has won five Grand Slam titles in the past two years, is a major setback for the Korea Open, which was elevated to WTA 500 status in 2024. The tournament had hoped to showcase some of the world’s best players, but with Swiatek’s withdrawal, it has now lost all of its expected Top 10 stars.
World No. 4 Elena Rybakina and No. 8 Emma Navarro have also opted out of the Korea Open. Rybakina cited a back injury, while Navarro, who made her Top 10 debut this week, noted a change in schedule.
The withdrawals of Swiatek, Rybakina, and Navarro leave Daria Kasatkina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Diana Shnaider as the top-ranked players in the field. Former US Open champions Sloane Stephens and Emma Raducanu have moved into the main draw, along with American Amanda Anisimova.
The Korea Open, which will be held in Seoul from September 19-25, is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the WTA calendar. The tournament has been won by some of the biggest names in women’s tennis, including Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Petra Kvitova.
Despite the absence of Swiatek and other top players, the Korea Open is still expected to attract a strong field of competitors. The tournament offers a total prize pool of $757,900, making it one of the most lucrative events on the WTA Tour.
