By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, September 20, 2024
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Iga Swiatek has pressed pause on her return to tournament tennis.
The defending Beijing champion has withdrawn from the China Open due to "personal matters."
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"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."
The China Open is set for September 25-October 6.
American Jessica Pegula knocked Swiatek out of the US Open quarterfinals 6-2, 6-4 earlier this month.
That defeat came weeks after world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka swept Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 in the Cincinnati semifinals.
Last October, Swiatek rolled through 12 of 13 sets capturing the China Open championship. Swiatek scored straight-sets wins over Coco Gauff in the semifinals and Liudmila Samsonova in the final to win Beijing.