The top-ranked player in women’s tennis will not grace Montreal with her presence this year.
Aryna Sabalenka has chosen to withdraw from the National Bank Open, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 7, citing fatigue as the reason, tournament organizers announced on Wednesday.
Hailing from Belarus, Sabalenka has reached the semifinals or better in her last four Grand Slam appearances, with a standout victory at the U.S. Open last year.
“I’m excited to start the North American hard-court season, but to ensure I have the best chance for success, I’ve made the tough decision to forgo Montreal,” Sabalenka stated. “I will miss my incredible Canadian supporters, and I can’t wait to see everyone next year!”
Last year, she made it to the quarterfinals at the NBO held in Toronto.
In addition, Tennis Canada has revealed that world No. 10 Paula Badosa from Spain has also pulled out of the NBO due to injury. Caty McNally from the U.S. and Moyuka Uchijima from Japan are set to join the main draw in her place.
