Karolina Pliskova becomes highest ranked player to withdraw from Australian Open

Karolina Pliskova has become the highest-ranked player to withdraw from the Australian Open.
The world number four posted a picture of herself on social media with her right forearm in a plaster cast after injuring her hand in practice.
Pliskova wrote: “Some days are worse than others. Unfortunately, I will be out for a while and will not compete at my favourite tournaments in Australia. But time and believe (sic) can heal everything.”
The 2019 semi-finalist was gutted to miss out on the Australian swing of the WTA Tour and the first Grand Slam of the year. She has reached the last four in both singles and doubles in Melbourne and her withdrawal significantly weakens a women’s draw reeling from a pair of high-profile
Some days are worse than others. Unfortunately I will be out for a while and will not compete at my favorite tournaments in Australia 😔 But time and believe can heal everything.
Bohužel i takové dny někdy jsou. Na chvíli bez tenisu a bez Austrálie, ale čas a vůle vše spraví ♥️💪 pic.twitter.com/Eqe5v8P5tV— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) December 16, 2021
The 29-year-old Czech was resurgent in 2021, reaching her second grand slam final at Wimbledon, where she was defeated in a tight contest by Ashleigh Barty.
The injury ends Pliskova’s streak of competing in 35 consecutive grand slam tournaments, with this the first one she will miss since the 2012 US Open, where she failed to qualify.
Her run had been the joint-fourth longest active streak on tour, behind Alizé Cornet (59), Angelique Kerber (48), Kristina Mladenovic (38) and joint with Caroline Garcia (35).
This withdrawal marks the first time Pliskova has missed out on the main draw of a Grand Slam main draw through injury.
While she has never won the Australian Open Pliskova is a three-time Brisbane champion (2017, 2019 and 2020) and reached her first WTA 500 final in Sydney back in 2015.
She joins Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu as high-profile absentees from the first grand slam of the new season, which begins on January 17.
Williams revealed that she was nowhere near where she wanted to be physically ahead of the tournament while Andreescu is taking time off from the game.
Latest
-
News
Los Cabos: Cameron Norrie eye on third ATP Tour title of 2022
The British number one battled to a 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory in the semi-finals.
-
WTA Tour
Toronto draw: Stacked top quarter could be seeds graveyard
The Toronto Masters has no soft paths to glory.
-
WTA Tour
Citi Open: Emma Raducanu falls to Liudmila Samsonova
Fellow Brit Dan Evans also went down in Washington.
-
WTA Tour
Exclusive – Former British No 1 with an upbeat verdict on Emma Raducanu
Durie has backed the young Brit to find her form if she can steer clear of injuries.
-
Tennis News
Exclusive – Former British No 1 on whether Novak Djokovic should play at the US Open
Jo Durie believes it will be a ‘real shame’ if Novak Djokovic cannot play at the US Open.
-
WTA Tour
Naomi Osaka lauds Coco Gauff as a star on and off the court
Coco Gauff is already a big star according to Naomi Osaka.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu could climb to World No 8 in DC
A new career-high ranking might await Emma Raducanu next week.
-
ATP Tour
Rafael Nadal left with no choice but to withdraw from Montreal
No Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic at the Rogers Cup.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon responds to backlash against new stadium plans
Wimbledon hope to get the local residents on their side.
-
Tennis News
Andy Murray handed US Open lifeline with Montreal wildcard
Three-time champion Andy Murray gets a wildcard for Montreal.