Iga Swiatek is set for her Seoul debut exactly a year after receiving the worst news of her tennis career and being left in a very dark state.
Last year, the Korea Open in Seoul was upgraded from a WTA 250 tournament to the 500-category. And Swiatek signed up to play and headline the tournament player field. But just a few days before the start of the tournament, the Polish tennis star abruptly pulled out of the tournament. Later, the former world No. 1 also withdrew from Beijing and Wuhan. But then, the explanation came in late November, when it was revealed that the 24-year-old unknowingly tested positive for a banned substance and was handed a silent one-month ban from tennis.
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This year, Swiatek again agreed to play in Seoul. But this time, no issues occurred in the process and she is ready to debut at the Korea Open, where she is the top seed and has a first-round bye before meeting the winner of the match between Sorana Cirstea and Zhu Lin.
Swiatek pulled out of the 2024 Seoul edition just two days before the start of the tournament
The 2024 Seoul edition started on September 14th, while the ITIA informed Swiatek about a failed doping test and provisional suspension on September 12th.
"On September 12, I learned that my anti-doping test sample, collected on August 12 before the Cincinnati tournament, was positive. It was a blow for me, I was shocked and this whole situation made me very anxious. At first I couldnt understand how that was even possible and where it had come from. It turns out testing revealed historically lowest levels of trimetazidine, a substance Ive never heard about before. I dont think I even knew it existed. I have never encountered it, nor did people around me," Swiatek said in her statement when announcing the doping news and ban.
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After serving a one-month ban, Swiatek returned to action in late 2024. The Pole didn't face any further issues afterward since the WADA refused to appeal the ITIA's ruling in the case.
