Iga Swiatek retires from Madrid Open due to illness

The tennis world is abuzz with the unfortunate news of Iga Swiatek's withdrawal from the Madrid Open. The Polish superstar, a dominant force on clay, was forced to retire mid-match against American Ann Li due to a sudden illness.

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The past two days were pretty terrible, I think I have some virus

Swiatek, who has previously battled sickness during her career, described the past two days as 'pretty terrible,' experiencing a significant lack of energy and physical discomfort. Despite her determination to compete, the severity of her condition made it impossible to continue, leaving her visibly distressed on court.

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It's been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I had zero energy, zero stability, and I just felt really bad physically.

This development is a significant blow to Swiatek's preparations for Roland Garros, a tournament she has conquered multiple times. While her withdrawal from Madrid is a setback, the focus now shifts to her recovery and her ability to be in peak form for the French Open, which begins later this month. Fans will be hoping for a swift return to full health for the beloved champion.

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I knew that (it was) going to be hard but I still wanted to try because I already have been sick twice in my career and I could still win most of my matches. I guess it depends on how bad it is, and I guess this time it was worse than before.