Iga Swiatek Ends Her Season, Out of WTA Finals Race

That is a rough way for Iga Swiatek's year to end. The six-time Grand Slam champion pulled out of the Ningbo Open on Tuesday with a left thigh injury and then announced she is done for the season, which also ends her shot at the WTA Finals.

"I've been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel that giving myself the time to rest and recover is the right decision," Swiatek said in a statement posted by the tournament, per the WTA. She was hampered by the same injury in her 7-5, 6-1 loss to fellow Pole Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan semifinals last week, Reuters reported.

Iga Swiatek calls it a season

Swiatek followed with an Instagram post saying she will not play any more tournaments this year. "This has been one of the most demanding seasons of my career, with a lot of challenges, changes and lessons along the way," she wrote. "The past few months, or actually the past couple of years, have been incredibly intense, and I feel I need to rest and recover my body fully."

She finishes 2026 with a 39-15 record and one title, in Toronto, according to the WTA. The world No. 9 did not get past the quarterfinals at any of the four majors this year, per Reuters. Alternate Anastasia Zakharova takes her spot in the Ningbo draw.

What it means for the WTA Finals race

Swiatek had played every WTA Finals since 2021 and won the title in 2023, Reuters noted. This year she needed to reach at least the Ningbo quarterfinals just to stay alive in the race. Seven players are already in for Indian Wells: Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Linda Noskova.

The last singles spot is now between Karolina Muchova (4,735 points) and Marta Kostyuk (3,920). Muchova is not playing this week, so it is all on Kostyuk. Per the WTA, if Kostyuk does not reach the Ningbo final, Muchova clinches the eighth spot. Kostyuk opens against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Wednesday.

Reuters reported Swiatek could have gone to the Finals as one of two alternates, but she has now ruled out playing again this year.

Rest first, then 2027

"I'm already looking forward to coming back next year," Swiatek said. For a player who has carried this much weight for this long, a real offseason might be the best thing that happens to her all year.