Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep set for Madrid Open, but no Serena Williams on entry list
Serena Williams is the big name missing from an excellent 2021 Madrid Open entry list with world No 1 Ashleigh Barty, reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka and former Madrid winner Simona Halep all in the field.
The clay-court WTA 1000 tournament returns this year after falling victim to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and it will feature a quality field.
Both Barty and Osaka are set to make only their third appearances at the red-dirt event with their best performances coming in 2019 when they exited at the quarter-final stage.
World No 3 Halep, though, has an excellent track record at the WTA 1000 tournament as she is a two-time winner having won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 while she also finished runner-up to Kiki Bertens in 2019.
After being sidelined for several months following surgery on her Achilles, world No 10 Bertens will return to defend her title. The Dutchwoman missed the Australian Open and only returned to action at the Qatar Open in March after undergoing an operation in October last year.
Former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, Elina Svitolina, Bianca Andreescu and Aryna Sabalenka are also in the field, but 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams is absent.
Williams has not played any competitive tennis since the Australian Open, but her absence from the Madrid Open is hardly a surprise given tournament director Ion Țiriac’s controversial comments about her at the start of the year.
Țiriac was quoted as saying “At this age and the weight she is now, she does not move as easily as he did 15 years ago”, which prompted criticism from Williams’ husband.
Alexis Ohanian wrote on Twitter: “Safe to say no one gives a damn what Ion Țiriac thinks.”
Three-time Madrid Open winner Petra Kvitova, two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza and reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek are also in this year’s line-up.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
WimbledonWimbledon order of play, TV info: What time are Novak Djokovic, Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray playing?
The Wimbledon day one TV, streaming, order of play guide.
-
WimbledonSerena Williams after ‘rough injury experience’: ‘I didn’t retire. I needed to heal physically, mentally’
After a “rough” injury, everything “just worked out” for Serena Williams to play at Wimbledon.
-
WimbledonEmma Raducanu ‘to play a like a kid who just loves playing tennis’ as she readies to realise Centre Court ‘dream’
The US Open champion has been battling to overcome a side strain ahead of Wimbledon.
-
WimbledonWimbledon to potentially be Novak Djokovic’s last Grand Slam this year
His vaccination status strikes again!
-
ATP TourLiam Broady on his transformation as a player and ditching nights out
He’s gone from third tier tournaments to Wimbledon wildcard.
-
WimbledonCoco Gauff believes Serena Williams is still dangerous despite year break
She could be a serious contender at SW19.
-
ATP TourAndy Murray rules out any possibility of playing in Saudi Arabia
He won’t be making the trip to the country anytime soon.
-
WimbledonRafael Nadal gives positive fitness update ahead of Wimbledon: ‘I can walk normally most of the days’
The Spaniard has been battling a chronic foot problem.
-
Tennis NewsExclusive: ‘Novak Djokovic has been treated badly,’ says John Lloyd, but ‘love will come out’ after he retires
John Lloyd feels people will start to “go crazy” for Novak Djokovic once he retires.
-
WimbledonAndy Murray says he ‘still has good tennis left’ and confident Ivan Lendl will help him to achieve his goals
Ivan Lendl has returned for a third spell coaching Murray.