British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

B00thy · Strong Club Player

Week 29 – ITF W75 Vitoria, Spain - Hard

the addict · Tennis legend

Oh dear, what a shame.

For the record
SF:- Katie Swan (GBR) WR740 [SR609] lost to Justina Mikulskyte (LTU) WR214 [3] 3-3 retired

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I couldn't really see which area the medic was working on - could you see anything B00thy ?

foobarbaz · Strong Club Player

I'm not surprised by the retirement today, it's been a long run of matches without much of a break. Hopefully it shows that Swan and her team are being pro-active in managing the obvious risk. The serve didn't have the usual potency over the entirety of the last few matches, it seemed to me anyhow. It's been a fabulous couple of months for Swan, to come back from a desperate situation in 2023, putting in such an incredible effort to regain fitness and competitive edge, and to fly through the rankings. In my view, Swan should have been given a Wimbledon main draw wildcard, and been allowed to practice on the grass, rather than have to play 6 matches to try to get there. She should be given a US open Qualifying wildcard too imho, they say they cater for players coming back from injury.

Mervatron2 · Challenger level

Oh no totally gutted for Katie.

Hopefully its nothing too serious and more precautionary.

B00thy · Strong Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
I couldn't really see which area the medic was working on - could you see anything B00thy ?

No I couldn't, she was at the far side of the umpire's chair so hidden from camera.

But considering she struggled with her opening service game, and that she was squeezing the back of her neck at the end of the third game, and cycling her serve action, she was clearly tight in the shoulder. He put tape very high up on her right shoulder, so that's definitely not upper arm, so likely to be shoulder. The fact it was so soon in the match - he arrived at the end of the third game means she felt it in the opening game, so hopefully it's to do with the amount of matches she's been playing recently

-- Edited by B00thy on Saturday 19th of July 2025 11:49:45 AM

-- Edited by B00thy on Saturday 19th of July 2025 11:50:30 AM

-- Edited by B00thy on Saturday 19th of July 2025 12:39:25 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

I think that this was her 22nd match in the space of eight weeks (including the Wimbledon wild-card playoffs). 19 wins and only three defeats. That's a lot of matches in a short time.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

foobarbaz wrote:
I'm not surprised by the retirement today, it's been a long run of matches without much of a break. Hopefully it shows that Swan and her team are being pro-active in managing the obvious risk. The serve didn't have the usual potency over the entirety of the last few matches, it seemed to me anyhow. It's been a fabulous couple of months for Swan, to come back from a desperate situation in 2023, putting in such an incredible effort to regain fitness and competitive edge, and to fly through the rankings. In my view, Swan should have been given a Wimbledon main draw wildcard, and been allowed to practice on the grass, rather than have to play 6 matches to try to get there. She should be given a US open Qualifying wildcard too imho, they say they cater for players coming back from injury.

But there are SO many players in a very similar situation to Katie - we only focus on Katie because she's British

And Katie never got to be top-100

And she did have a PR exactly to cover that situation (but used it in a rather strange way, unlike Jodie, for instance)

indiana · Tennis legend

Agree, CD. Zero chance of Katie getting a US Open Qualies WC and I understand that.

For the moment I just hope this issue today proves not particularly serious and she can continue to build and progress for the rest of the year.

Just hearing part of what she has been through when talking to her Mum at Wimbledon Qualies, I even more look out for Katie and want her to come back strongly.

But to me, that is more about next year while the remainder of this year is more about building up relatively steadily again. If at times it is more than steady, bonus.

We see her do well and want her to do even better, but I feel - don't push the envelope too much at this stage.

the addict · Tennis legend

Katie is now WR474 on live rankings - up 266 places.

Andy Parker · Club Coach

foobarbaz wrote:
I'm not surprised by the retirement today, it's been a long run of matches without much of a break. Hopefully it shows that Swan and her team are being pro-active in managing the obvious risk. The serve didn't have the usual potency over the entirety of the last few matches, it seemed to me anyhow. It's been a fabulous couple of months for Swan, to come back from a desperate situation in 2023, putting in such an incredible effort to regain fitness and competitive edge, and to fly through the rankings. In my view, Swan should have been given a Wimbledon main draw wildcard, and been allowed to practice on the grass, rather than have to play 6 matches to try to get there. She should be given a US open Qualifying wildcard too imho, they say they cater for players coming back from injury.

I agree a lot with your comments about the Wimbledon wildcard to the main draw. When she is fit, she plays at a very high level, which I think lots of us on here recognise and lots in tennis know. It is easy to look at stats and not see the bigger picture - I think it happens a lot, and sometimes with players you can just watch them and see straight away that they are really good or alternatively that they are not or that they still have a lot to work on to get there.

With Katie S, she does have the game and weapons to be in the top 100, in my opinion, so hopefully this is a strain caused by playing so many matches in such a short space of time and not anything more serious. Time will tell, but it will be an anxious wait to see when she is next back and if there are any injuries. Anyway I am sure I can echo everyone on here in wishing her all the best, in case she does read anything posted on here.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Thanks for the feedback, B00thy

My feeling was simply 'oh good, it's her shoulder, been doing lots of serving' - at least it's not her back !!!!

LordBrownof · Futures level

Katie confirmed on her instragram that it was simply a match too far and time for some rest.

emmsie69 · Top national player

LordBrownof wrote:
Katie confirmed on her instragram that it was simply a match too far and time for some rest.

I was relieved to see that she was smart enough to retire early in the match. Absolutely no point pushing through any kind of discomfort at this point in her comeback, particularly when she has already had a great 2 weeks. A week of rehab and recuperation, then hopefully she'll squeak into Lexington.

Mervatron2 · Challenger level

Did see the post on instagram which looks like its not too bad.

A few weeks off and then some US events?