Pegula withdraws from Strasbourg, fate in Roland Garros remains uncertain

Jessica Pegula will not play at Internationaux de Strasbourg, it has been confirmed as expected after she withdrew from the tournament and seems to be unlikely to play Roland Garros either in the coming weeks.

Pegula recently posted an update confirming her absence from Rome, but this was with a caveat as she also said that Roland Garros would 'possibly' be missed. She has started training again, but also said that it was at a snails pace.

It is unknown what has been affecting her, but a neck injury saw her have issues earlier in the season which took her out for the opening part of 2024. Known as the WTA's Queen of Consistency, it certainly hasn't been the case this year. She last played at Charleston where she reached the semi-final.

She then played Billie Jean King Cup but like Emma Navarro took to the court against Belgium seemingly injured. Albeit no signs were really present that this was a problem as she only withdrew from Stuttgart in the week that followed due to tight turnaround.

But from there on, she continued to withdraw from tournaments with Madrid and Rome both passing her by after she suffered a setback while back at home in the States preparing for the European part of the clay court swing.

Also during 2024, Pegula has changed coaches with David Witt being disposed of after a long-term coaching relationship. He has since moved on to Maria Sakkari who has thrived as of late on tour including reaching the Indian Wells final. Mark Merklein and Mark Knowles were installed as joint coaches for Pegula on her return to the tour. But of course she has been injured since so it is yet to discern whether this was a good appointment.

The guessing will be that Pegula will now move on to the grass court season. She is signed up to play Libema Open 's-Hertogenbosch in the first week which starts on June 10 which gives her enough time to recoup and get ready. With the run-up to Wimbledon incoming, she will hope to return to her best in time for a vital run-in. This features the grass court major, the Olympic Games and of course the US Open.

Not a great year thus far for Pegula and it has got worse with this withdrawal. But still time to claw it back when she does return and given she has returned to training that seems imminent.