Jessica Pegula announces ‘super safe’ French Open decision
Jessica Pegula will miss the French Open after the US star announced the ‘super safe’ decision to withdraw from the event.
World No 5 and US No 2 Pegula had not played since the United States successfully Billie Jean King Cup tie against Belgium, and had played just one clay court event this season – the Charleston Open.
The 30-year-old withdrew from prominent events in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome this clay season, and had previously cast doubt on her French Open participation.
Announcing her Rome withdrawal on Instagram stories a fortnight ago, she wrote: “Hi guys – quick update.
“Will miss Rome and possibly RG [Roland Garros]. I actually feel really good but have to work back into training at a snail’s pace.”
And Pegula, a former quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, has now confirmed that she will be missing the second Grand Slam of 2024.
She said: “Hi guys – unfortunately pulling out of Roland Garros this year.
“I’m just about back to practicing normal (haven’t had any issues for weeks) but played it super safe with recovery & return to play.
“If I had another 5-7 days I would have been there 100%. So I will definitely be back for a full grass season and the rest of the summer and grinding out the rest of the year.
“Gotta get that match count up.”
Pegula’s latest injury blow will have come as a huge frustration, having previously turned around her slow start to the 2024 season.
The American lost in round two at the Australian Open and skipped the Middle East swing in February, but a quarter-final run in Miami and last four run in Charleston had seemingly turned her season around.
But her pre-Madrid setback – which she has not openly discussed up until this point – has now disrupted any momentum she was building.
With just round three points to defend in Paris, Pegula is unlikely to face a significant rankings dip, and all eyes are on how she will fare this grass season.
Pegula is currently entered into the WTA 500 event in Berlin – one of the biggest pre-Wimbledon events on the surface – and will hope to at least match her quarter-final run at SW19 from 12 months ago.
The world No 5 reached the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time in 2023, losing to eventual champion Marketa Vondrousova in a thrilling quarter-final.
