Šwiatek Suffers Shocking Beijing Upset, Losing to Navarro in Three Sets
BEIJING – Top seed iga Šwiatek (24) was sensationally eliminated from the WTA 1000 Beijing tournament in the round of 16, falling to Emma Navarro (24) 4-6, 6-4, 0-6. The defeat marks the end of Šwiatek’s winning streak in the Chinese capital and a significant setback in the race for the year-end world No. 1 ranking.
Šwiatek had previously defeated navarro in two prior encounters: a 6-0, 6-2 victory at an ITF event in the US seven years ago, and a 6-1, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Australian Open.
Despite a strong showing in reaching the round of 16, where she defeated Yue Yuan and Camile Osorio, Šwiatek struggled with a high number of unforced errors against Navarro. She faced 15 break points, losing her own serve six times while managing to break Navarro only three times. After nearly two hours of play,Šwiatek forced a deciding set,but was ultimately overwhelmed,failing to win a single game in the final set which lasted 40 minutes.
This loss ends Šwiatek’s six-match winning streak, which began with a title run at a WTA 500 event in Seoul, South Korea. it also marks her first defeat at the China Open,having won the title in her debut appearance last year.
The result also impacts the year-end No. 1 ranking race. With Aryna Sabalenka currently sidelined due to injury, Šwiatek had an possibility to extend her lead. However, the loss squandered that chance.
Navarro’s victory over Šwiatek represents her first Top 10 win since the australian Open in January and only the sixth of her career.she will next face either compatriot Jessica pegula or Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals.