With the new tennis season already in swing, players are gearing up for the first Grand Slam of the year—the Australian Open. It is a marquee event, marked by excellence, as players vie for the trophy. This year is no exception, and fans have a lot to look forward to. However, several players are also set to miss the tournament.
This year, the Australian Open will see several former Grand Slam champions return. Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka are two of the biggest names who will make a comeback after long layoffs. Unfortunately, many big stars will also be absent this year, and we take a closer look at the players who have been sidelined.
Nick Kyrgios will miss the Australian Open again
This is the second time that the Aussie ace will sit out of the tournament. Kyrgios has been dealing with a number of injuries since last year. In 2023, Nick played just one match, at the Stuttgart Open, where Wu Yibing defeated him.
The former world number 13 has undergone several surgeries since. Unfortunately, he still has not recovered enough to compete at the elite level. “This is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open,” he said (via Eurosport).
On the bright side, though, Kyrgios will don the commentator’s hat. He made his commentary debut at the Nitto ATP Finals and will continue in that role when the tournament rolls around.
Karolina Muchova
The world number eight is set to miss the tournament this year due to a recurring wrist problem. Muchova has been dealing with this problem since the US Open semifinals.
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The Czech star even had to skip her maiden WTA Finals in Cancun last season. Unfortunately, her tryst with her wrist is still far from over, as she took to social media to inform her decision.
Belinda Bencic
Bencic has never skipped the Australian Open since 2014, but that streak is about to end this year. Back in November, the Swiss star announced that she was pregnant.
Belinda took to Instagram to announce the news of her pregnancy. The last tournament she played was in San Diego in September 2023.
Petra Kvitova
The two-time Grand Slam champion has been away from the courts since October. There were many rumors about the Czech star being missing from the court action.
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The reason behind Petra’s absence is very clear now that she has announced it. Kvitova is pregnant and expecting her first child with her husband, Jiri Vanek.
Bianca Andreescu
Andreescu, the former US Open champion, is another notable name who will miss the major tournament. She has been struggling with back problems and has not played since the Canadian Open.
As of now, there is no certainty about when Bianca will make her comeback. However, the 23-year-old is eyeing a return during the American swing.
Venus Williams
Williams has been away from the tennis courts for a while now, owing to her health and injuries. Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, made it to the finals of the major in 2003 and 2017. Unfortunately, she will be skipping it this year.
Riley Opelka
Opelka is the latest player to withdraw from the marquee event. The star has not played a lot of competitive matches, and he is set to miss his sixth Grand Slam in a row, starting with the US Open in 2022. Opelka is a formidable player, and he was on the brink of a major breakout, but his comeback has been postponed again. With Opelka out, Dominic Thiem is now in the main draw.
It is sad to see several of the biggest players miss the Australian Open. However, injuries take their toll on players, but hopefully, all of them can return to the tour as early as possible. The first Grand Slam of the year will begin on January 14.
Liam Broady
British tennis star Liam Broady has regretfully withdrawn from the Australian Open 2024. He received a medical timeout during the match with Andrey Rublev earlier, in which he lost. Liam reportedly suffered two bone stresses in his ankle. Broady explained, “I felt I couldn’t move properly on court.”
— Liam Broady (@Liambroady) January 7, 2024
An MRI in Melbourne confirmed the issue, with the risk of fractures if he continued to play. Despite his desire to compete and secure full prize money, Broady prioritized fairness, stating, “I felt it wasn’t right when other competitors have a better chance fully fit.”
Dominic Stricker
Swiss tennis star Dominic Stricker also announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open due to a back injury. In a heartfelt message on social media, he wrote, “Due to a back injury, I have to step back from this year’s Australian Open.”
Hi Tennis Family,
It’s with a heavy heart 💔 I share some tough news today. Due to a back injury, I have to step back from this year’s Australian Open.
I promise to return stronger and more ready than ever.
Thank you all for standing by me. 🙏❤️#tennis #ATP #atptour— Dominic Stricker (@DominicStricker) January 6, 2024
Stricker, determined to return stronger, thanked his fans for their support, vowing to come back more prepared than ever. Last year, he narrowly missed qualification, losing in the last round against Frenchman Enzo Couacaud.
Rafael Nadal
After a comeback following a year-long hiatus, Rafael Nadal faced an unexpected setback at the Brisbane International 2024. Nadal disclosed a micro-tear in a muscle, different from his previous injury, leading him to withdraw from the demanding five-set matches and head back to Spain for treatment.
Hi all, during my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried. Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news.
Right… pic.twitter.com/WpApfzjf3C— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 7, 2024
Despite the setback, he remains hopeful for a strong comeback in three months. Fans hope to see the legend in the upcoming, his favorite, clay season.