Emma
Raducanu,
Rafael Nadal, and Jack Draper are ruled out of
Wimbledon, while Nick
Kyrgios remains uncertain.
With just
two weeks to go until the start of Wimbledon, several players have already
withdrawn from the WTA and ATP draws. The third Grand Slam of the year will once
again offer ranking points and a significant prize money for the participants.
The notable
absentee is Rafael Nadal, who hasn't played since the Australian Open and
announced that he won't be competing for the remainder of the 2023 season. The
22-time Grand Slam champion hinted at a possible retirement in 2024, making
this potentially his last appearance at the grass-court event.
2021 US
Open champion
Emma Raducanu has also withdrawn from the tournament in her home
country. She underwent surgeries on her hands and ankles, which will keep her
out of action for several months. The exact date of her return has not been
confirmed yet. Similarly, Jack Draper, another British player, has decided to
take a break from the tour following his retirement from the French Open.
“It’s clear
my shoulder is going to need time and rehab to get back to where it needs to
be,” Draper wrote on Instagram.
“My team
and I have made the difficult decision to miss the grass-court season this
year. I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs but this one is
tough to take. The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering. Thank
you for all the support I get on here it means a lot,” he added.
Nick
Kyrgios is uncertain for Wimbledon as he hasn't fully recovered from his
injury. Although he is already competing in tournaments, his physical condition
remains questionable.
Matteo Berrettini, who was a finalist in 2021, recently
withdrew from Queen's Club Championships, making his participation in Wimbledon
uncertain as well.