Iga Swiatek Suffers Rib Injury: World number one Iga Swiatek opted not to play in the Miami Open due to a rib injury. The development meant that Swiatek, who was slated to face Claire Liu in the second round on Thursday if she competed despite the pain, will not take part in the two-week event where she is the defending champion. The 21-year-old Polish netter will also miss the Billie Jean Cup qualifying round against Kazakhstan on April 13-14. In a news conference before the start of the hardcourt event, Swiatek said that she waited until the last minute to make a decision. She said that pulling out of the event was a “smart move” for her to take care of her body and to rest properly. Sports betting oddsmakers would miss the exploits of the top-seeded netter as she has been the consensus favorite in every tournament.
The Injury Began in Indian Wells
Swiatek, whose win in Miami Open was part of her 37-match unbeaten run last year, said that the injury first surfaced in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells against Sorana Cirstea. The injury was in full swing against Elena Rybakina in the semifinals as she was seen struggling in the match. She eventually lost the match 2-6, 2-6. Swiatek hopes to take part in the French Open as she is the defending champion. The event will kick off in Paris on May 28. Her injury gives a chance for the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Rybakina and other high-ranked tennis stars to win the annual tournament that gives big WTA ranking points and money to the winner.
Iga Swiatek Suffers Rib Injury: WTA to Meet with Ukraine Players
The Women’s Tennis Association and Ukrainian players will tackle their concerns as tensions with Russian and Belarusian players in the locker room continues. Marta Kostyuk accused the WTA board of ignoring their requests for a meeting. A spokesperson for the WTA dispelled the charge, saying that they received the request and a meeting would be made in a suitable date. The tennis association noted that requests for previous meetings with Ukrainian players were granted previously and the sessions were held.
Tensions simmer when Potapova was given a formal warning for wearing a Spartak Moscow shirt before a match in Indian Wells. Kostyuk and Potapova did not shake hands after the match in Miami. Belarusian tennis star and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka revealed that she had faced locker room “hate” due to a row with a Ukrainian coach. Previously, Swiatek urged the WTA to act on the issue as Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of the Indian Wells tournament due to a panic attack.
Experts well-versed in current tennis picks said that a dialogue between Ukrainian players and the WTA is the best move by the association to prevent further tensions from taking place in the future.
