Jasmine Paolini withdraws from Canadian Open as injury list continues to grow

Tuesday, 21 July 2026 at 02:30

Jasmine Paolini will not begin her North American hard-court swing as planned after confirming her withdrawal from both the WTA 500 Washington Open and the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto. The Italian cited an ongoing foot injury, opting to prioritize her recovery ahead of the final stretch of the season.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist had shown encouraging signs at Wimbledon, where she reached the quarterfinals, but her 2026 campaign has otherwise been a difficult one.

After falling out of the top 10 at the end of May, Paolini has struggled to regain momentum and will now miss two key tournaments during the build-up to the US Open. Paolini had been projected to be the No. 14 seed in Toronto before announcing her decision on Monday.

The world No. 15 is now expected to make her comeback at the Cincinnati Open, where she enjoyed one of the best weeks of her career last season by reaching the final. It will be her only hard-court tournament before traveling to New York to compete in the US Open, her fourth Grand Slam.

Canadian Open loses another big name

Paolini becomes the latest high-profile withdrawal from the Canadian Open, joining an increasingly lengthy injury list ahead of the WTA 1000 event.

The 30-year-old explained that her foot still requires additional recovery time before she returns to competition.

"Unfortunately, I have decided to withdraw from Washington and Toronto so that I can give my foot a little more time to rest,” the 2-time Grand Slam finalist wrote on her social media. “I'm sorry not to be there, and I wish all the participants two fantastic tournaments. Thank you, as always, for all your love and support."

Paolini the third notable withdrawal from Washington, this one due to injury, has dealt with that foot issue most of the year. She is also out of Toronto.

Its not updated on the DC Open site yet so not sure who is replacing her. pic.twitter.com/BeIavWiZLe
— Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates26) July 20, 2026

Defending champion Victoria Mboko had already confirmed she would miss her home tournament as she continues recovering from the ankle injury suffered during the Berlin Ladies Open. The Canadian enjoyed her breakthrough moment in Toronto last year, capturing her maiden WTA 1000 title in front of home fans.

Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu and Hailey Baptiste have also withdrawn from the event due to injury, further reducing the strength of the field less than a month before the US Open.

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The ATP draw has also been affected. Carlos Alcaraz remains sidelined as he continues the final stages of his recovery from the wrist injury that has kept him out for the past several months. The Spaniard is still expected to make his return at the Cincinnati Open, one week after the Canadian Masters, assuming there are no setbacks in his rehabilitation.

With several top names absent, Toronto could offer an opportunity for lower seeds and in-form players to make a deep run before the season's final Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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