Swiatek pulls out of Ningbo Open with thigh injury

The Polish player, ranked ninth in the race to the Finals ahead of this week's 500-level event in China, is battling it out with seventh-placed Karolina Muchova and 10th-placed Marta Kostyuk for the eighth and final berth at the tournament.

This season's Finals will take place at Indian Wells on November 8–15.

Czech Muchova is not competing this week, while Ukrainian Kostyuk is seeded third in Ningbo.

"After careful consideration, I've decided to withdraw from the tournament," six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek said in a statement released by the tournament.

"I've been experiencing an ongoing problem with my left thigh over the past weeks and I feel that giving myself the time to rest and recover is the right decision."

The 25-year-old was hampered by the same thigh issue during her defeat last week in the semi-finals in Wuhan against her compatriot Maja Chwalinska, who went on to win the title.

Swiatek is replaced in the draw in Ningbo by Russia's Anastasia Zakharova.