Three WTA Players Withdraw From Italian Open
The final clay-court Masters 1000 event of the season will begin at the Italian Open on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, there is a superb WTA entry list for the tournament, with French Open champion Iga Swiatek and Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka among those set to feature. However, three players have elected to withdraw from the Italian Open. This article names those who have withdrawn and lists their four replacements in the draw.
Three Players Withdraw From The Italian Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Jessica Pegula was the first player to withdraw from the Italian Open. The American No. 2 also did not play at the Madrid Open, with Pegula announcing she had gotten hurt the week before the tournament began. No further details about her injury have been provided. Hopefully, I will be fit and ready for the French Open in a few weeks.
Karolina Pliskova was the second player to withdraw from the Italian Open. The two-time Grand Slam runner could not compete in Madrid due to a knee injury. She was hopeful at that stage of being ready to play at the event in Rome. Unfortunately, the Czech needs some additional recovery time.
Karolina Muchova was the final player to withdraw from the Italian Open. Last year’s French Open runner-up has not played all season due to a wrist injury, which also kept her out of the 2023 WTA Finals. Muchova had surgery on this issue in February. Although no estimated date has been provided for her return, it will likely be some time before fans can watch her fluid stroke again.
Who Replaces Those Three Players In The Draw?
Wang Yafan benefits from Pegula’s decision to withdraw from the Italian Open. She is yet to find much success on clay, having not won a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 level match during her career on the dirt. The 30-year-old now has a chance to change that statistic in Rome.
Mayar Sherif replaces Pliskova at the event. The clay-court specialist missed much of the season so far through injury, but she has found some form recently. Sherif defeated Australian Open quarterfinalist Marta Kostyuk in Madrid before reaching the final at a WTA 125 tournament in Lleida. That could make the Egyptian a dangerous opponent to draw.
Finally, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova is set to play at the Italian pen because Muchova has to withdraw. She has won two clay-court matches this season and came close to beating Ons Jabeur in Madrid.