The WTA scheduling has been a hot topic of debate all season, with players voicing concerns over fatigue and stress. As the Seoul Open approaches, less than a week after the exhausting US Open, many players are opting out, choosing to prioritize their well-being over the demands of constant travel and competition. And now, joining the list of those stepping away is none other than World No. 1, Iga Swiatek.

Just a day ahead of the tournament, Swiatek announced that she would not be participating in the WTA 500 tournament, citing fatigue. She has joined the likes of top star players like Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina to pull out of the tournament, thereby giving a major setback and disappointment to the fans.

Sharing the news, an X user wrote, “Iga Swiatek is OUT of the Korea Open. Disaster for the tournament as all top-10 players have withdrawn in its first year as a 500.” These withdrawals have, however, allowed several other players to make a place for themselves. 

Daria Kasatkina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Diana Shnaider are now among the top-seeded players in the tournament. The withdrawals have also helped the former US Open champions Sloane Stephens and Emma Raducanu who have moved into the main draw. However, tennis enthusiasts, and especially the fans of Iga Swiatek are not happy with the news.

As soon as the post gained traction, several other X users joined the fray to express similar disappointments and highlighted the negative aspects that Swiatek might face by withdrawing from the tournament. They also claimed that Swiatek might lose her World No. 1 position to Aryna Sabalenka now.

‘That was her last chance’ – Iga Swiatek faces criticism for withdrawing from the Korea Open

Taking to X, one user wrote, “That was her last chance to keep nr 1 position at end of the year if she did well in this tournament meaning Sabalenka will be the new nr 1.” Remember, Iga Swiatek currently leads Aryna Sabalenka by just 409 points in the race to the WTA finals. If she had participated and won WTA Seoul, the difference could have soared high thereby helping her secure her position as the World No. 1. However, her decision to pull out has stressed her fans who are now speculating that the Pole might lose her top spot to the in-form Sabalenka. More reactions followed.

Responding to the post, another user wrote, “Now you’re gonna go in Beijing cold and we could’ve used that free 500pts!” The fans anticipated Swiatek to win the tournament easily and bag the 500 points. The Korea Open has lost all its top-10 expected star players as the series of withdrawals has continued. While Pegula and Rybakina pulled out with rib and back injuries respectively, Emma Navarro opted out to avoid physical stress.  In such circumstances, the chances were quite high for Swiatek to win the tournament and hence, her decision came as a major setback to the fans.

“Well at least ik she’ll be a great world number 2 next year,” another fan wrote. Interestingly, Sabalenka has also expressed her zeal to clinch the World No. 1 spot yet again. Speaking after her US Open victory, she opened up about her goals ahead and said, “I’m still hungry, for sure. Another goal for sure is to try to become world No.1 again.” With such fierce competition and the minimal points margin in place, Swiatek’s position as the World No. 1 is definitely not safe.

Several others joined the fray expressing their disappointment. One more netizen wrote, “oh egga and i was defending u over here😭😭.” Swiatek has previously talked about the scheduling challenges and how difficult it is for the players to go around the tour playing continuously the whole year without much break in between. Speaking ahead of the US Open, the Polish star said, “I do not expect that I will ever rest 100 percent at this point in the season, or that I will feel fresh. There are many tournaments, they are extended and there is not much time for regeneration.”

Yet another user simply highlighted the disappointment and wrote, “we are coming back to #2 era so soon,” suggesting that the Pole might slip to the no. 2 spot in the WTA rankings soon. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if the decision to withdraw from WTA Seoul impacts Swiatek’s rankings. Will she be able to stay at the top of the WTA rankings? Well, only time will tell.