Surprise exit as Jessica PEGULA and Emma NAVARRO withdraw from Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

Jessica Pegula withdraws from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix a few days after the Billie Jean King Cup. The absence of the world No. 5 adds to that of her compatriot Emma Navarro, who will be competing in the duel against Belgium on April 12 and 13.

The tournament held in Stuttgart is a WTA 500 event and will feature eight of the top-10 players, including Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina. Pegula's schedule also includes playing the Madrid Open a week after Stuttgart, so she may have prioritized some rest time.

Both Pegula and Emma Navarro had confirmed their participation for the first time in the tournament, but they will ultimately be replaced by Donna Vekic and Paula Badosa.

Pegula comes from intense weeks after reaching the quarterfinals of the Miami Open and just a few days later was playing at the Charleston Open, where she reached the semifinals but was eliminated by Daria Kasatkina. The American No. 2 played eight matches in two weeks, in addition to her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Her opponents in the Billie Jean King Cup will be Sofia Costoulas and Hanne Vandewinkel, in the absence of figures such as Elise Mertens, Greet Minnen, and Yanina Wickmayer.