John Isner backs Iga Swiatek for making ‘smart’ decision and insists he’s not worried

Iga Swiatek has been backed by former player John Isner for ending her season early.

Shortly after withdrawing from the Ningbo Open, Swiatek called time on her 2026 season in a bid to rest and recover her body fully after a very demanding campaign. She played 58 matches in total, and claimed her only WTA title in Toronto.

Swiatek was backed by tennis fans for making the significant move at this stage of the season, with Isner now in agreement. The Pole was at one stage in contention to qualify for the WTA Finals, but Swiatek won’t be making an appearance at the year-end tournament for the first time since 2019.

Discussing the six-time Grand Slam champion on the Nothing Major Show, Isner played down any Swiatek concerns. He said: “She is totally fine. [She is just thinking] let’s rest and recoup. I have been there and done that before.

“It’s not like she doesn’t care about this event, she wants to make it this year. But obviously her body is a little banged up so her and her team think it is wise to give her that extra month of recovery so that she can go into Australia at close to 100%, which is what everyone is trying to do.

“I think this is a smart decision because if she is not at her best to compete and be able to give herself a chance to win the year-end championships, then take the time off, get to your vacation spot and reset mentally and physically and get ready to go next year.”

Iga Swiatek Grand Slam finals

It’s certainly not a bad move from Swiatek, particularly given that she admitted 2026 has been her most demanding season to date. Still, she remains a top 10 player, while she ends the season with 42 wins and 16 losses.

Moreover, she is on the exclusive list of WTA 1000 champions in 2026, having ended a 13-month title drought at the Canadian Open. And with that success in Toronto, Swiatek now boasts titles at 12 of the 15 biggest events in the entire calendar. Of the four Grand Slams, the 10 WTA 1000s and the WTA Finals, she is missing only the Australian Open, Dubai and Wuhan.

And likely at the very top of her list of priorities is the Australian Open, where she could become the next player to complete the career Grand Slam. With that likely goal in mind at the very start of 2027, ending her 2026 season early makes even more sense.