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.

Bill Scott

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