Madrid Masters
Heartbreak for tearful Swiatek as Pole quits match
Iga Swiatek fled the court with tears in her eyes after apparent heat exhaustion forced a retirement in the third set of her third -round match against Ann Li at the Madrid Masters on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded former WTA No. 1 could not go on as she retired trailing 3-0 in the deciding set, with her 34th-ranked American opponent collecting a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 victory.
Swiatek was seen on court by the tournament doctor after she quit in stifling spring heat in the Spanish capital.
The Pole was struggling and down a break in the third when she pulled the plug.
Swiatek took a medical timeout trailing 2-0 in the final set and retired after one more game with gastro issues.
Victory marked the second top 10 win for Li, who achieved her last more than four years ago.