Unsurprisingly, the WTA draw at the Madrid Open is very strong. French Open champion Iga Swiatek and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina are among the top players set to feature. However, five WTA players have decided to withdraw from the Madrid Open. This article names those who have withdrawn and then lists their five replacements in the draw.
Five WTA Players Withdraw From Madrid Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Jessica Pegula was the first player to withdraw from the Madrid Open. The American No. 2 announced on her Instagram page that she got hurt last week, meaning she is not ready to play. It continues a difficult start to the year for Pegula, who also missed some tournaments after the Australian Open due to injury.
Karolina Muchova was the second player to withdraw from the Madrid Open. Last year’s French Open runner-up has not played a match this season because of a wrist injury, which also kept her out of the 2023 WTA Finals. Muchova underwent surgery on the problem in February, and it could be some time before she goes back to competing again.
Amanda Anisimova also pulled out, taking her name out of the entry list. The 22-year-old made her first appearance since the Australian Open in Charleston a few weeks ago. She had been due to enter the WTA 1000 with a protected ranking, but chose not to for as yet unknown reasons. Anisimova had returned to the sport after a lengthy hiatus at the start of the season.
Diane Parry was the fourth player to withdraw from the Madrid Open. The Frenchwoman sustained a leg injury during her opening match at the Rouen Open last week, which led to her retirement in the second set. She has not recovered from that issue in time to compete in Spain.
Marie Bouzkova was the final player to withdraw from the Madrid Open. She started her clay-court season very well by reaching the final in Bogota a couple of weeks ago. But Czech’s chances of building on this in Madrid have now been extinguished. No official reason has been given for Bouzkova’s decision.
Who Replaces Those Five Players In The Draw?
Viktoriya Tomova benefits from Pegula’s decision to withdraw from the Madrid Open. The Bulgarian has been somewhat inconsistent so far this season. Her opening tournament in Hobart is the only time she has managed to win consecutive matches in the main draw of a WTA event in 2024.
Mayar Sherif is set to feature at the Madrid Open due to Muchova’s withdrawal. The Egyptian is a clay-court specialist. However, Sherif has not played many matches this year due to injury and is trying to get back up to speed as quickly as she can. She now has another chance to do that on the Spanish clay.
Cristina Bucsa will replace Anisimova at the event. The Spaniard made a solid start to her clay-court season by progressing to the quarterfinals in Bogota a few weeks ago. She almost reached the semifinal, but she lost 7-5 in the third set against Kamilla Rakhimova.
Nao Hibino also enters the main draw of the Madrid Open. The Japanese player will need to play much better than in Rouen to have a chance of going far. Last week, she was dismantled 6-2 6-1 by Elena-Gabriela Ruse in France, playing far below her best throughout.
Finally, Anisimova’s withdrawal gives Nadia Podoroska an opportunity. The 27-year-old usually plays her best tennis on clay, although she lost in the first round in Rouen last week to a dominant Mirra Andreeva.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – USA TODAY Sports
