The Polish tennis star withdrew from the Ningbo Open on Tuesday because of a thigh injury, ending her hopes of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time since 2019.
Shortly after her withdrawal, the 25-year-old announced that she would take an extended break to recover physically and mentally before returning to competition in 2027.
Swiatek, a former world number one, has dropped to ninth in the rankings and will finish the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2021. Her most recent major victory came at Wimbledon in 2025.
"The past few months, or actually the past couple of years, have been incredibly intense," Swiatek said.
She added that she needed sufficient time to recover fully before returning to the court.
"I feel I need to rest and recover my body fully, so that's exactly what I will do, for a bit longer this time," she said.
Swiatek won just one WTA title in 2026, lifting the Canadian Open trophy in August. She concludes the season with a 42-16 win-loss record.
Her campaign included a semi-final appearance at the Wuhan Open, where she lost to fellow Pole Maja Chwalinska on Saturday. The defeat was only her fourth in 23 matches, although she required treatment for her thigh during the encounter.
Despite the difficult season, Swiatek expressed satisfaction with the progress she made during the second half of the year.
"I'm especially proud of the work we've done in the second half of the year and the progress that came with it," she said, adding that the improvements gave her confidence for the future.
The season also brought changes to her coaching team. In March, Swiatek parted ways with Belgian coach Wim Fissette before appointing Spaniard Francisco Roig, who previously worked with Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu.
Although her Canadian Open triumph offered encouragement, she continued to experience difficult moments on court, including emotional reactions during matches.
Her defeat by childhood friend Chwalinska was another difficult moment, with Swiatek seen wiping away tears.
With the Australian Open scheduled for January, the extended break could give Swiatek an opportunity to regain her fitness and prepare for another campaign. The tournament also presents a chance for her to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the only major title missing from her collection.
