Since our last update, a few more Wimbledon withdrawals have piled up in the lead-up to the tournament, creating room for some last-minute alternates. Let’s dive in.
5 More Players Withdraw From Wimbledon 2026
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Holger Rune, No. 43 at the time of entry, was more a placeholder on the entry list than a sure contender. Rune, who is recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered at the end of last season, has been pushing his comeback further and further and is wisely giving himself proper recovery time. Despite announcing a comeback for the clay season, Rune still hasn’t played this season, and a withdrawal from Wimbledon was expected.
Reilly Opelka will face a huge blow in missing Wimbledon as a big server, but ongoing injury issues have forced him to withdraw. Opelka suffered a five-set first-round loss at the French Open and hasn’t played since, and his wins have been sporadic all season. Missing all of grass season, and especially Wimbledon, is poor timing, and though Opelka was No. 75 upon entry to Wimbledon, he has fallen to No. 115 in the live rankings.
Eliot Spizzirri made waves with his Australian Open match against Jannik Sinner, but since then, he’s been dealing with an elbow injury that has taken him out of Wimbledon. Spizzirri, entering Wimbledon at No. 92, had played only two tournaments since the Australian Open, one of which was the French Open. The fact that he has withdrawn from Wimbledon then shows how serious the injury is.
Cristina Bucsa, like Spizzirri, hasn’t played since a first-round loss at the French Open and has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury. Bucsa entered at No. 31 and was having a good season, including a 500 title, but the injury has completely disrupted her momentum.
Marketa Vondrousova has the most recent and most controversial withdrawal. After ongoing eligibility struggles with the ITIA, Vondrousova was handed a four-year ban for missing a doping test. This, of course, resulted in her immediate withdrawal from Wimbledon, for which she entered at No. 44, and all subsequent tournaments. Vondrousova’s ban has sparked an uproar in the tennis world, with many players defending her and calling it unfair. The former Wimbledon champion will be absent from the tournament for the first time since 2022, and that absence will certainly be noticeable.
Who Replaced Those Players in the Main Draw?
Rune’s withdrawal pushed Titouan Droguet into the main draw, where he will face compatriot Adrian Mannarino. This will be Droguet’s first appearance in the main draw of Wimbledon and just his third appearance in the main draw of any Grand Slam.
In place of Opelka, Dalibor Svrcina received direct entry and will face 16th seed Learner Tien in the first round. Like Droguet, this is Svrcina’s first time playing in the main draw of Wimbledon.
Spizzirri’s compatriot Martin Damm entered the main draw as a result of the withdrawal and faces Marco Trungelliti in the first round. This is Damm’s first-ever appearance at Wimbledon.
Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva received a place in the main draw due to Bucsa’s withdrawal and will play Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round. This is Jimenez Kasintseva’s second Grand Slam main draw appearance and her first at Wimbledon.
Vondrosouva’s withdrawal opened up a spot for Nadia Podoroska, who is set to face 12th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round. Podoroska is by far the most experienced of the alternates, a former French Open semifinalist who has played in the main draw of Wimbledon three times prior to this year.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
