By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 5, 2025
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
The defending Wimbledon champion, Barbora Krejcikova, will sadly sit out the Australian Open, as her journey in this year’s tournament ends before it even starts.
The two-time Grand Slam winner has officially withdrawn from the tournament due to a persistent back injury.
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“Hello everyone, I want to give you a brief update on my situation regarding the Australian Open withdrawal. Regrettably, my back injury, which affected me towards the end of the last season, is still not fully healed,” Krejcikova shared on her social media. “It’s truly disappointing, as I have wonderful memories of playing in Melbourne, especially reaching the quarterfinals last year.”
“I appreciate all the support from you. I am working diligently to recover completely and can’t wait to see you all back on the court soon!”
Currently ranked No. 10 in the world, Krejcikova was set to be the 10th seed at the Australian Open. However, she hasn’t competed since her loss to Zheng Qinwen in the WTA Finals semifinals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last November. Notably, Krejcikova handed world No. 3 Coco Gauff her only defeat in her path to clinching her first WTA Finals title.
Together with Katerina Siniakova, Krejcikova celebrated back-to-back Australian Open doubles titles in 2022 and 2023.
Last July, Krejcikova triumphed in her third championship match, overcoming Jasmine Paolini with scores of 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, to claim her inaugural Wimbledon singles title.
This victory marked her second Grand Slam singles crown in three years, adding to her 2021 Roland Garros singles and doubles titles, and left her feeling “unbelievable.”
Krejcikova now joins former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and former US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova as absentees from Melbourne.
The 2025 Australian Open main draw is set to take place from January 12 to 26.
