Iga Swiatek will miss the opportunity to secure a spot at the season-ending WTA Finals after withdrawing from the Ningbo Open in China on Tuesday due to a left thigh injury. The six-time Grand Slam champion, who has competed at every edition of the Finals since 2021 and won the event in 2023, was unable to progress in Ningbo, where she needed at least a quarterfinal finish to challenge for the final qualifying position.

Swiatek, 25, struggled with the injury last week during her semifinal loss to compatriot Maja Chwalinska at the Wuhan Open, where she was defeated 7-5, 6-1. This season has been challenging for the Polish player, who claimed only one tournament victory and has not advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any of the four Grand Slam events.

In a statement posted on the Ningbo Open’s social media channels, Swiatek cited ongoing issues with her left thigh over recent weeks and emphasized the importance of rest and recovery. “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to withdraw from the tournament,” she said.

Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic currently holds the final qualifying position for the WTA Finals but is not participating in Ningbo. Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine still has the potential to surpass Muchova in the standings by earning enough points across the Ningbo Open and next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Kostyuk needs to accumulate 815 points to overtake the Czech player.

With Swiatek’s withdrawal, her direct qualification for the WTA Finals scheduled from November 8 to 15 in Indian Wells, California, is no longer possible. However, she may still attend the event as one of two alternates should the need arise.