The images will be seared into memory. Iga Swiatek, the world No. 4, left the Caja Magica center court in tears on Saturday, forced to retire against Ann Li in the third set of their second-round match (7-6(4), 2-6, 3-0 ret.).

A virus to blame

The Pole had found her footing after losing the first set in a tiebreak. Dominant in the second set (6-2), she appeared to have seized control. But upon returning for the decider, everything unraveled. Swiatek began to wobble, visibly unsteady and drained of energy. At 0-2 down, she called for the tournament doctor.

"The two days before the match were pretty terrible," the six-time Grand Slam champion said. "I felt some virus coming on, then in the third set I started to feel dizzy. I had no stability at all." After a medical timeout, Swiatek returned to play one more game before admitting defeat, leaving the arena with red eyes as the Madrid crowd applauded.

A difficult season

This retirement fits into a turbulent 2026 campaign for the former world No. 1. Following a suspension for inadvertent contamination in late 2024 and a coaching change — she now works with Toni Nadal Jr — Swiatek has struggled to recapture her best form on clay, traditionally her strongest surface.

At 25, the four-time Roland-Garros champion is going through a period of doubt that worries her fans. The pressing question now is whether she will recover in time for Rome, the last major stop before Paris.

Ann Li, meanwhile, earns just the second top-10 victory of her career in 12 attempts. The American continues her run in Madrid.