Swiatek Moves to Fourth Round of Cincinnati Open After Kostyuk’s Withdrawal

Iga Swiatek Advances in Cincinnati Open 2025

Iga Swiatek clinched her place in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open 2025 following the withdrawal of Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk from the WTA 1000 event. Being seeded in the tournament offers strategic advantages, allowing players like Swiatek to progress without engaging in extensive matches. This scenario unfolded once again for the Polish tennis star in Cincinnati.

Recent Performance and Tournament Progress

Swiatek entered this tournament after a setback in her previous outing, where she was knocked out in the fourth round of the Canadian Open by Clara Tauson. This marked her first defeat since her remarkable victory at Wimbledon earlier in the summer. In Cincinnati, Swiatek quickly made her mark by defeating Anastasia Potapova with a score of 6-1, 6-4, which enabled her to advance to the third round without the need for another match, thanks to a first-round bye granted to all seeded competitors.

Withdrawal of Marta Kostyuk

Originally, Swiatek was scheduled to face Kostyuk in the third round. Kostyuk had previously triumphed over Tatjana Maria in her opening match, just a few days after withdrawing from her quarter-final clash with Elena Rybakina in Montreal due to a wrist injury. Despite winning her first-round match, it seemed wise for Kostyuk to opt out of further competition, particularly against Swiatek, against whom she has never won a set.

Strategic Break and Upcoming Matches

Consequently, this allowed Swiatek to progress to the fourth round with minimal exertion; she played her match on Saturday and is not scheduled to compete until Wednesday, providing her with an advantageous break. While some athletes thrive on match play over practice, Swiatek is likely grateful for the rest, especially following her intensive two-week campaign at Wimbledon.

This break not only aids her recovery but also allows her to prepare effectively for the upcoming US Open, where she is a former champion and, following her Wimbledon success, a top contender. Swiatek will have at least one more match in Cincinnati before heading to Flushing Meadows and is expected to face the winner of the upcoming contest between Sorana Cirstea and Yue Yuan. Given her current standing and previous performances, she is favored to advance to the quarter-finals.

Should she succeed against either Cirstea or Yuan, she might set up a highly anticipated rematch against Amanda Anisimova, the fifth seed in Cincinnati, provided Anisimova overcomes her next two opponents, Anna Kalinskaya and possibly Ekaterina Alexandrova.