The Korean Open has been thrown into disarray as all four top-10 players set to compete have withdrawn.
The WTA 500 in Seoul gets underway next week and will be Emma Raducanu’s next event.
But the tournament has now lost Iga Swiatek just one day after several big names pulled out of the draw.
Days before the Korea Open kicks off, the field has fallen apart. World No. 1 Swiatek is the latest player to skip the event in its first year as a 500-point event after being upgraded from a WTA 250.
“My physical condition has not yet returned to normal since the US Open. I cannot go to Seoul. Please understand that I have no choice but to change my schedule,” the five-time Grand Slam champion told Tennis Korea.
“I definitely want to visit Seoul next year and play a great match in front of Korean fans.”
It’s another blow after defending champion Jessica Pegula withdrew with a rib injury. The world No. 3 reached her maiden Grand Slam final at the recent US Open.
Emma Navarro also pulled out after a deep run at her home Grand Slam tournament, where she reached the semi-final. The American cracked the world’s top 10 this week and is now taking time to rest, citing a “change of schedule” for her withdrawal.
World No. 4 Elena Rybakina still hasn’t recovered after pulling out of the US Open after winning her opening match. The 25-year-old is now skipping the Korea Open with a back injury.
The four top-10 stars aren’t the only players skipping the WTA 500 event. Former champion Karolina Pliskova is also out with a foot injury. Pliskova recently underwent surgery after retiring from her second-round US Open match just three points in.
Raducanu had originally been given a wildcard into the tournament but the withdrawals have allowed her to enter off her own ranking. Zhang Shuai, Amanda Anisimova, Viktoriya Tomova and Sloane Stephens have also made it into the main draw.
The Brit reportedly arrived in Seoul on Thursday to start her pre-tournament practice.
