Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova withdraws from Australian Open

Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from the upcoming Australian Open 2025. The first Grand Slam of the year is set to begin in a week where players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Krejcikova became the most high-profile player to opt out of the competition. The development was confirmed by the player herself in a post on social media, where she stated that she would not feature in the upcoming competition because of a back injury.

"Hi everyone, I wanted to share a quick update regarding my withdrawal from the Australian Open,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, my back injury, which troubled me at the end of last season, is still not fully healed. It’s really disappointing because I love playing in Melbourne and have such great memories from reaching the quarterfinals last year. Thanks to all of you for your support. I’m working hard to get back to full health, and I can’t wait to see you on the court soon!"

The development would have been a disappointing one for Krejcikova who does not have a great record while playing in the Australian Open where she has never managed to play beyond the quarterfinals stage. In the 2024 edition, the reigning world number 10 lost at the last-eight stage to the current world number one Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. This was the second time the Brno-born failed at the quarterfinals stage. In 2022, she also faltered at the same stage after losing to America’s Madison Keys in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This year, world number one Sabalenka will be defending her title in Melbourne. She won the competition last year after beating China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-2.