Iga Swiatek is ready for her Seoul debut precisely a yr after receiving the worst information of her tennis profession and being left in a really darkish state.
Final yr, the Korea Open in Seoul was upgraded from a WTA 250 event to the 500-category. And Swiatek signed as much as play and headline the event participant subject. However just some days earlier than the beginning of the event, the Polish tennis star abruptly pulled out of the event. Later, the previous world No. 1 additionally withdrew from Beijing and Wuhan. However then, the reason got here in late November, when it was revealed that the 24-year-old unknowingly examined constructive for a banned substance and was handed a silent one-month ban from tennis.
This yr, Swiatek once more agreed to play in Seoul. However this time, no points occurred within the course of and she or he is able to debut on the Korea Open, the place she is the highest seed and has a first-round bye earlier than assembly the winner of the match between Sorana Cirstea and Zhu Lin.
Swiatek pulled out of the 2024 Seoul version simply two days earlier than the beginning of the event
The 2024 Seoul version began on September 14th, whereas the ITIA knowledgeable Swiatek a few failed doping take a look at and provisional suspension on September twelfth.
"On September 12, I realized that my anti-doping take a look at pattern, collected on August 12 earlier than the Cincinnati event, was constructive. It was a blow for me, I used to be shocked and this complete scenario made me very anxious. At first I couldn’t perceive how that was even potential and the place it had come from. It seems testing revealed traditionally lowest ranges of trimetazidine, a substance I’ve by no means heard about earlier than. I don’t suppose I even knew it existed. I’ve by no means encountered it, nor did individuals round me," Swiatek mentioned in her assertion when saying the doping information and ban.
After serving a one-month ban, Swiatek returned to motion in late 2024. The Pole didn't face any additional points afterward because the WADA refused to attraction the ITIA's ruling within the case.
