Tennis

Tennis: Swiatek to miss German Open with shoulder issue

bet365 News Team Published: Jun 10 2022 15:45

Women's world number one Iga Swiatek will miss the German Open due to a problem with her shoulder and is focussing instead on her recovery in time for Wimbledon.

What: WTA German Open

Where: Weiss Tennis Club, Berlin

When: 13th-19th June

How to watch: Amazon Prime

The Polish superstar has been the dominant force in women's tennis this year and her fabulous record continued at the French Open.

She defeated American teenager Cori Gauff to win her second French Open title last week and her unbeaten record is now standing at 35 games.

However, she has opted to pull out of the Wimbledon curtain-raiser in order to maximise her chances of being fully fit for the All England Club.

Currently, Swiatek is priced at 13/8 to win her first title in SW19 with Japan's Naomi Osaka next on the list at 11/2.

Swiatek not taking any chances

It is no wonder Swiatek is feeling the strain after a season in which she has come to the fore as the most feared opponent in the game as it stands.

Her winning run began in Qatar by winning the Qatar Open against Anett Kontaveit and she subsequently won The Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Stuttgart Open, and Italian Open where she ascended to number one in the world.

She was installed as a big favourite for the French Open - a tournament she won two years ago as an unseeded teenager.

And, if she did feel any pressure, she certainly didn't feel it as she marched through to the final and brushed aside challenger Gauff in a match up between two players who could dominate women's tennis in years to come.

All those tournament wins came in straight sets though finally, it seems to have taken its toll with Swiatek suffering shoulder pains, and the 21-year-old has taken to Twitter to explain her plans for the forthcoming weeks.

"Due to a recurrent discomfort I am feeling in my shoulder, unfortunately I need to withdraw (from the German Open)," she said.

"I'm sorry I will not be able to play there. I will focus on recovery and rest in order to be ready for Wimbledon."

Swiatek aiming to make history

Her current unbeaten record of 35 is the longest since the one set by Venus Williams in 2005 and she will aim to carry on her run, though she is still some way off Martina Navratilova's 74-match winning streak set in 1984.

Swiatek also became only the 10th woman in Open Era history to win more than one French Open - now she will chance her arm at Wimbledon.

She has only played Wimbledon twice in her still very fledgling career, her best result coming last year when she reached round four before losing to Ons Jabeur.

However, she is now a completely different prospect and, providing she recovers in time for Wimbledon, she will be the draw no one will want.

Raducanu also battling fitness concerns

British number one Emma Raducanu is also facing a race against time to be fit for SW19, though it is expected she will make it.

Since winning the US Open in stunning fashion last year, Raducanu's form has stuttered with injury concerns and coaching upheavals not helping her cause.

Raducanu initially made her name in last year's tournament reaching round four before Ajla Tomljanovic defeated her.

The Londoner is currently priced at 16/1 to win Wimbledon, which begins on Monday 27th June.