Anticipation is continuing to build as the final Grand Slam of 2023 inches closer. The US Open begins on August 28th, with many fan favourites in the entry list for the men’s and women’s singles. That includes defending champions and world #1’s Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek.
However, some players have already withdrawn from the tournament. For Instance there were four withdrawals from Flushing Meadows last week. That trend has sadly continued. It has been confirmed that four more stars will not be appearing in the 2023 edition of the US Open. Three are men’s singles players, while one is from the women’s singles draw.
Four More Players Withdraw From US Open
Former quarterfinalist in New York, Denis Shapovalov, has sadly withdrawn from this year’s event. The Canadian had been one of six players men’s singles players with injury concerns before the US Open. Canada’s #2 player has been struggling with a knee injury since Wimbledon. Shapovalov said the following in a part of a statement: “Despite doing everything possible to be 100% healthy for the US Open, my knee needs more time and I sadly have to withdraw…. I’m really going to miss playing in front of the fans this year!”
The US Open will also be without one of its former semifinalists. Pablo Carreno Busta has had to withdraw from the Grand Slam where has been most successful. The Spaniard has not played since a defeat at the Rotterdam Open in February to French tennis stalwart Richard Gasquet. Since then Carreno Busta has been missing from a serious elbow injury, and there is currently no indication when the 32-year-old will return to action.
Reilly Opelka is the third men’s singles player who will not be appearing at the US Open. The big-serving American’s withdrawal from his home tournament confirms his absence from all four Grand Slams this season. This is due to multiple injury issues the four-time ATP titlist has experienced. A hip injury was his first problem, but it is currently a wrist injury that is stopping Opelka from competing.
Shuai Zhang is the absentee from the women’s singles. The Chinese player does not have any confirmed injury problems. However, she has been experiencing a long run of defeats in a row, and Zhang also went through a stressful and much publicized incident at the Hungarian Open. Everyone at LWOT hopes Zhang is okay, and that she returns refreshed to the court when the time is right.
Who Replaces Those Four Players in the Draw?
Shapovalov has been replaced in the main draw by Attila Balazs. The 34-year-old Hungarian will make just his sixth Grand Slam appearance, and second at the US Open. Balazs is currently ranked #101 in the world, and his story is quite an inspiring one of an experienced player not giving up on his dream. He currently has just one Grand Slam win, which came on his favoured clay courts at the French Open in 2020.
Radu Albot is Carreno Busta’s replacement. The Moldovan reached the third round at Flushing Meadows back in 2017. The 33-year-old is currently ranked #106 in the world, and has a chance to re-enter the Top 100 at the final Grand Slam of the year. He will hope to produce the kind of tennis that saw him defeat Marcos Giron in Washington a couple of weeks ago.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo is the beneficiary of Opelka’s withdrawal. The 21-year-old Argentine is set to make his third ever Grand Slam appearance. He is still waiting for his first victory at Grand Slam level after first round exits at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Cerundolo is a clay court specialist, with all 17 of his finals at Challenger and Futures level coming on the dirt. But he will hope to show his ability on hard courts on the biggest stage.
Lastly, Caroline Dolehide has entered the US Open women’s singles main draw due to Zhang’s absence. The American has not played at her home Grand Slam since 2020. Dolehide is yet to win a match in three previous outings in New York. The world #108 now has a chance to change that.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
