Iga Swiatek’s Doping Nightmare Opens Door to World No. 1 as Aryna Sabalenka Exits China Open

It’s late in the WTA season, and the toll of a grueling calendar is starting to show. Players are breaking down, bodies are bruised, and withdrawals are piling up. Just days ago, Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Billie Jean King Cup, with Japan’s captain Ai Sugiyama revealing, “Actually, she [Naomi Osaka] got injured. She really wanted to come here to compete. But, she has to recover from the injury first.” Now, Aryna Sabalenka has followed suit, stepping away from the China Open. Her absence cracks the door wide open for Iga Swiatek, who suddenly has a golden shot at reclaiming No. 1.

Just a couple of hours ago, Aryna Sabalenka broke the news that sent shockwaves through the tennis world. In a heartfelt statement, the Belarusian star said, “Hi all – I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open. I am going to focus on being 100% healthy for the rest of the year, and I can’t wait to see my Chinese fans soon! I look forward to returning to Beijing next year and wish the tournament good luck.” For Sabalenka, the focus now turns to recovery, but her absence has opened the door for Iga Swiatek.

Sabalenka currently sits comfortably atop the WTA Rankings with 11,225 points, holding a 3,292-point lead over Swiatek’s 7,933. However, when you shift the lens to the WTA Race to Riyadh, the standings that count points earned in 2025, the gap narrows considerably. Sabalenka is just 2,077 points ahead, leaving Swiatek with a very real opportunity to put serious pressure on her rival as the season winds down.

Let’s dissect this conundrum and the opportunity that Iga has ahead of her. Cue the flashback. Iga Swiatek missed out on the 2024 Asian Swing due to her provisional suspension following a positive test for trimetazidine (TMZ), later proven to be from a contaminated melatonin supplement, and hence she stands to gain big. How, you ask? Because now she has lesser points to defend. As tumultuous and stressful as that suspension period was for Swiatek, it seems that there was a silver lining all along beyond that dark phase.

Sabalenka, on the other hand, faces a heavier burden. She has to defend 400 points at the WTA Finals, plus 1,000 points in Wuhan and 215 points from her Beijing quarterfinal run. Missing Beijing completely will cost her those points outright, potentially leaving her exposed to a rankings shake-up if Swiatek capitalizes.

The timing couldn’t be more favorable for Swiatek. She is already in action this week at the WTA 500 in Seoul and remains entered for the China Open. If she captures both titles, she would pocket a combined 1,500 points, cutting Sabalenka’s race lead to fewer than 600 points. That would set the stage for a dramatic finish heading into the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where both players will fight for the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Even if Swiatek falls short of a clean sweep in Asia, she can still close the gap thanks to her light points-defending load. The Pole has just 400 points to defend from last year’s WTA Finals after being provisionally suspended from the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open. That means nearly every win she earns adds fresh points to her tally.

Swiatek has history on her side in Beijing. She won the title there in 2023. A title run would create a 1,215-point swing in her favor in just one tournament. Adding to the drama, Swiatek recently revealed that injuries played a role in her US Open loss, offering context for her dip in form. With renewed health and motivation, she has her eyes now firmly fixed on Seoul. The road to No. 1 is back within reach, and the chase just got very real.

Iga Swiatek reveals injury update affecting US Open match

For weeks after the US Open Mixed Doubles, speculation swirled around Iga Swiatek’s health, with whispers of a lingering foot injury. The world No. 2 faced a shocking defeat in Flushing Meadows, bowing out in straight sets to Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals. It was a startling contrast to her Wimbledon triumph, where she had dismantled Anisimova without dropping a set.

“It was very chaotic for me in terms of what happened behind the scenes,” Swiatek admitted after the loss, reflecting on the turmoil that hampered her performance. The polish star’s dominant form seemed temporarily derailed by circumstances off the court.

Speaking to the Korea Times recently, Swiatek opened up about her recovery process. “I haven’t been practicing a lot because I needed time to recover and to do everything to just be ready to play matches,” she revealed, showing her pragmatic approach to healing and preparation.

Despite limited court time, Swiatek confirmed her physical state is strong. “So physically, I feel great. I feel like I need to practice some more, but I don’t have any pain or anything. It’s all good,” she added, signaling readiness to compete at peak form again.

As she shifts her focus to the R16 match in Korea tomorrow, all eyes are on how she adapts and executes her game after the enforced recovery period. Her mental fortitude and strategic patience will be tested.

With Aryna Sabalenka absent from the China Open, Swiatek has a golden opportunity to capitalize and inch closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. The stage is set, and the Polish star is determined to turn adversity into triumph.