The WTA Bad Homburg Open got underway on Sunday. There are many great players in the draw, with the Top two seeds Maria Sakkari and Liudmila Samsonova among the players featuring. However, four players have decided to withdraw from the Bad Homburg Open, with two of these withdrawals coming late after the tournament had already began. This article names the players who have decided not to play and then lists their four replacements in the draw.
Four Players Withdraw From Bad Homburg Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was the first player to withdraw from the Bad Homburg Open. The Czech suffered an injury scare during her match in Berlin against Anna Kalinskaya. After slipping and falling, she retired from the contest, appearing to be suffering from a right hip problem. It is not surprising to see Vondrousova prioritizing being ready her Wimbledon title defense.
Caroline Garcia was the second player to withdraw from the Bad Homburg Open. She won the event back in 2022, meaning fans would have been particularly excited to see her in action. No official reason has been given for the 30-year-old decision. Garcia did announce her engagement to her partner earlier this month, meaning she could be taking some extra time to celebrate.
Anna Kalinskaya also withdrew from the event. This is not a major surprise. Kalinskaya suffered a heartbreaking final loss in Berlin to Jessica Pegula. She finished as the runner-up despite having five championship points. Understandably, the Russian needs some time to mentally regroup before Wimbledon begins.
Victoria Azarenka was the final player to withdraw from the Bad Homburg Open. Her physical issues became clear during her semifinal against Kalinskaya in Berlin. The two-time Australian Open champion looked to be struggling in the third set of that contest. Despite completing the match, Azarenka has elected to be cautious and not risk aggravating the problem.
Who Replaces Those Four Players In The Draw?
Nadia Podoroska benefited from Vondrousova’s decision to withdraw from the Bad Homburg Open. Before being given the chance to play at the tournament, she had not played any grass-court matches. Unfortunately, she lost on the opening day in straight sets against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Peyton Stearns replaces Garcia at the Bad Homburg Open. This is also the American’s first event on grass since the French Open. She is currently scheduled to play Yulia Putintseva on Tuesday, although it is not clear if the Kazakhstani will play after her run to the title in Birmingham.
Taylor Townsend will also feature in Germany due to Kalinskaya’s withdrawal. She was soundly beaten in qualifying by Viktoriya Tomova but has now been given a chance to perform better in the main draw. Townsend plays the big-hitting Linda Noskova in the opening round.
Finally, Tamara Korpatsch will replace Azarenka at the Bad Homburg Open. The German has lost all three of her main draw and qualifying matches on grass so far this season. To change that record, she will have to overcome the fourth seed, Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
