Karoline Muchova issues ‘heartbroken’ statement as her WTA Finals replacement is revealed
Karolina Muchova’s dreams of playing in the 2023 WTA Finals have been crushed after she was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
The French Open runner-up has struggled with a wrist injury during the latter half of the season and she has not played any competitive matches since losing to Coco Gauff in the semi-final of the US Open.
However, she “tried everything” to recover in time for the season-ending tournament in Cancun, but has been forced to make an “unpleasant decision”.
“I am heartbroken to announce that I will miss my first WTA Finals in Cancun,” the world No 8 wrote on Instagram.
“Together with the team and doctors we tried everything till the last moments to resolve my wrist injury. Unfortunately, the time needed for the recovery is longer than we would’ve hoped for and therefore I had to make this unpleasant decision.
“I greatly appreciate the support of all the fans
“I will do my best to be back in 2024 and get another chance to be part of the @wtafinals ”
Muchova was due to make her debut at the showpiece event on the back of a magnificent season that saw her reach her maiden Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. She finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek while she was beaten by Gauff in the Cincinnati Open final in August.
The Czech will be replaced by Maria Sakkari in the draw.
Greek Sakkari finished the WTA Race to Cancun in ninth place, but will now feature at the tournament for the third consecutive year as she finished runner-up in both 2021 and 2022.
Barbora Krejcikova is next in line should there be another withdrawal with Madison Keys replacing Sakkari as the second player on the alternate list.
There are still injury concerns over Ons Jabeur and Markata Vondrousova.
Jabeur withdrew from her quarter-final match at the Zhengzhou Open a fortnight ago due to a knee injury while Wimbledon champion Vondrousova has played only one match since the US Open.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek and US Open champion Gauff, 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina and American Jessica Pegula are the other players who will feature in Cancun.
Besides the WTA Finals trophy being on the line in Mexico, Sabalenka and Swiatek will also battle it out for the year-end No 1 ranking.
