There is a very exciting entry list for the WTA 500 tournament in San Diego. This includes last year’s Canadian Open champion Jessica Pegula, who is set to make her first appearance since the Australian Open. However, four players have elected to withdraw from the WTA San Diego Open. This article names those who have withdrawn from the event and then lists their four replacements.
Four Players Withdraw From WTA San Diego Open
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Last year’s French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova is the first player to withdraw from the WTA San Diego Open. The Czech has been missing since the US Open due to a wrist injury. A few days ago, Muchova announced she’d had successful surgery on the issue, but it is currently unclear when she will be able to return to the court.
Anna Kalinskaya is the second player to withdraw from the WTA San Diego Open. The Russian’s absence is not a surprise after her run to the final at the Dubai Tennis Championships, which included stunning victories against US Open champion Coco Gauff and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. She will take some deserved rest before the Indian Wells Open the following week.
Paula Badosa has also withdrawn from the event. The Spaniard retired from her first-round match in Dubai, which is the second time this has happened this season. This is particularly worrying because Badosa came back at the start of this season after months out with an injury. Hopefully, this issue is not a long-term one and she returns to the court soon.
Arantxa Rus is the final player to withdraw from the WTA San Diego Open. She lost in the first round in Dubai to last year’s Australian Open semifinalist, Victoria Azarenka. Rus will be seeking to recapture the form that saw her win a maiden WTA title at the Hamburg Open last year.
Who Replaces Those Four Players In The Draw?
Varvara Gracheva replaces Muchova at the WTA San Diego Open. The Frenchwoman has been given a chance to respond to a disappointing 2-6 1-6 loss to Tatjana Maria in Dubai. Gracheva can be dangerous when she finds her range and she may have extra motivation after the manner of her last defeat.
Anna Blinkova benefits from Kalinskaya’s decision to withdraw. Blinkova played one of the most incredible tiebreaks of all time against Elena Rybakina at this year’s Australian Open, which Blinkova eventually won 22-20. She has not played for a couple of weeks after the Russian elected not to play at any of the tournaments during the Middle East swing.
Katerina Siniakova is set to play at the WTA San Diego Open due to Badosa withdrawing. The Czech player beat Coco Gauff in Doha, but she has lost both her matches since that triumph. Siniakova now has an opportunity to get back to form at the WTA 500 event.
Finally, Magdalena Frech replaces Arantxa Rus at the WTA San Diego Open. The Pole has started the season very strongly. She reached the fourth round at the Australian Open and also the round of 16 in Dubai, where she narrowly lost to last year’s Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
