Poland’s Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from the Ningbo Open due to an ongoing injury, tournament officials confirmed on Tuesday. The decision comes as Swiatek aims to secure a place at the upcoming WTA Finals, scheduled for November 8-15 in Indian Wells.

Swiatek, currently ranked ninth in the race to qualify for the year-end event, has been closely contending with Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic and Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk for the final eighth spot. Muchova, ranked seventh, is not participating in this week’s Ningbo Open, while Kostyuk holds the third seed in the tournament.

In a statement released through the event organizers, the six-time Grand Slam champion cited persistent discomfort in her left thigh as the reason for her withdrawal. “I’ve been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel that giving myself time to rest and recover is the right decision,” Swiatek said.

The Ningbo Open, a WTA 500-level tournament held in China, represents a crucial opportunity for players on the cusp of qualifying for the WTA Finals to earn ranking points. Swiatek’s absence removes one of the key contenders from the field as the competition continues. The WTA Finals gather the season’s top eight singles players and doubles teams, marking one of the sport’s most prestigious events beyond the Grand Slams.

With Swiatek stepping back, momentum in the qualifying race may shift toward rivals like Kostyuk, who is actively competing this week. The tournament’s results over the coming days will be closely watched as players seek to solidify their positions ahead of the year-end championship.