TORONTO (AP) – Iga Swiatek, ranked first, pulled out of a U.S. Open practice match in Toronto on Friday following her bronze medal victory in the Paris Olympics.
Several players withdrew from the National Bank Open, which gets underway on Tuesday, including Swiatek. Along with Jasmine Paolini, Danielle Collins, Caroline Garcia, and Maria Sakkari, Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejcikova, Elena Rybakina, and Maketa Vondrousova withdrew on Friday.
Five Grand Slam titles have been won by Swiatek: one at the U.S. Open and four at the French Open, including this year.
Swiatek released a statement stating, “I’m sorry to announce that due to overall fatigue caused by the last couple of weeks on the court I need to withdraw from the tournament in Toronto.” She had a busy schedule that included the Olympics and a change of playing surfaces, so she needed time off.
The Wimbledon winner this year, Krejcikova, withdrew due to a thigh injury just after making it to the Olympic quarterfinals. Acute bronchitis was the reason Rybakina gave for missing the Paris Games.
Slone Stephens and Sofia Kenin, previous Grand Slam winners, entered the Toronto event main draw.