“No energy or stability”: Swiatek worried about a virus circulating at the Caja Mágica
Iga Swiatek reveals she battled dizziness and a complete energy collapse during her Madrid Open match, pointing to a virus reportedly spreading among players at the venue.
Iga Swiatek, Madrid 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
World number 4 and Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek retired from the Mutua Madrid Open on Saturday after suffering a severe physical collapse in the third set of her match, citing a suspected virus that she said is circulating among players at the Caja Mágica.
“I still felt like I had a chance, but in the third set I started to feel even a little dizzy and not very coordinated,” Swiatek explained in a post-match press conference. The Pole described an alarming chain reaction: her energy dropped drastically, and even basic recovery between points became impossible. “I couldn’t drink anything because I felt like I was full all the time.”
The collapse forced her out of the tournament, and Swiatek did not hide her frustration at having to walk away from a Madrid edition that had started so promisingly. The former Madrid champion of 2024 admitted she had taken the court mainly to test herself: “I wanted to see how I felt on the court. I always want to try, but if I feel I can’t do it, like in Rome 2023 or here, there’s no point.”
Behind the physical breakdown lies a more troubling concern. Swiatek revealed she has been unwell for several days and suspects an illness that may not be hers alone to carry. “I haven’t been feeling very well these last two days. Pretty terrible. I think I have some kind of virus,” she told reporters, before issuing a pointed warning: “I’ve heard that something’s going on among the players, that the virus is around here, at the venue.” Some hours she felt fine, she said; others were considerably worse, with yesterday marking the low point.
Before the tournament, I felt like I was playing really well.
The disappointment is sharpened by the form she was carrying into the tournament. “Before the tournament, I felt like I was playing really well, so it’s actually sad for me not to be able to play, because I felt really good about my game and progressing,” she said. “For me the tournament had just started and I couldn’t even compete today. Today, there certainly aren’t many positive things to take away.”
Looking ahead, Swiatek is giving herself room to recover before turning her attention to Rome. “First, I need to recover, and I’m sure I’ll have a few days to get over this. In three or four days I’ll be fine and ready to train.” Her team is likely to relocate for that preparation, since “Rome has very different conditions than here” – a small logistical concern compared with the bigger one she leaves behind in Madrid.
