Miami Open 2022 pullouts:The much-awaited Miami Open 2022, is all set to begin on 21st March, Monday. After the initial qualification rounds, the main round gets underway from 23rd March, Wednesday. The tournament however will have a depleted field this year as majority of the top Tennis players that includes the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Ashleigh Barty and Roger Federer have all pulled out of the tournament citing various reasons. InsideSport takes a look at the top players who will not participate in the upcoming tournament. Follow InsideSport.IN for more updates.
Miami Open 2022 pullouts: World No.1 Ash Barty & Rafael Nadal headlines Miami Open withdrawals- check full list
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal, who is having a terrific year as he is yet to face a defeat this year, has pulled out of the this year’s Miami Open. Nadal started the year by winning the Melbourne Summer Set and went on to win the year’s first Grand Slam event, which is the Australian Open. He then won the Mexican Open title at Acapulco and is on course to win his fourth title as he reached the finals in the Indian Wells Masters. The Spaniard has not participated in the Miami Open since 2017 and decided to give it a miss this year too.
Ashleigh Barty
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty who started the year by winning the Adelaide International title and the Australian Open title, suffered fitness setbacks and is targeting to return to the circuit by April this year. Barty’s last competitive game was the Austrtalian Open final, where she defeated America’s Danielle Collins to become the first Australian in 48 years to win the Australian Open. Barty missed the Indian Wells Masters too and hopes to return in time for the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying event on April 15.
Novak Djokovic
World No. 1 Djokovic, who was deported from Australia as he was not vaccinated, will not be able to participate in the Miami Open as well since he is yet to get vaccinated. Djokovic, who is reluctant to get himself vaccinated participated in only the Dubai Tennis Championships this year, where he made a quarter-final exit. Djokovic is likely to miss many more tournaments if he remains unvaccinated.
Roger Federer
40-year old Roger Federer, who has been out of action ever since the 2021 Wimbledon is still recovering from a knee surgery that has kept him away from the game for the last eight months. The 20-time Grand Slam winner has been having troubles with his knee and underwent a third surgery in two years after the completion of Wimbledon. He is likely to be out of action until the Wimbledon this year.
Barbora Krejcikova
Barbora Krejcikova who was named as the first seed in the Women’s singles at the Indian Wells Masters this year, unfortunately had to miss the tournament as she suffered an elbow injury. Krejcikova won her maiden Grand Slam last year at Roland Garros and is currently ranked World No.2.
Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem who has been out of action ever since June 2021, after suffering a wrist injury has decided to pull out of the Miami Open. The Austrian last played the Mallorca Open in 2021 and retired midway in his first round after suffering a wrist injury. The Austrian, who won the 2020 US Open title is now fully fit but wants to return to the circuit when the clay court season gets underway.
Serena Williams
40-year old Serena Williams, is just one win away from equalling Margaret Court’s record of 24 career Grand Slam titles. But the American has been out of action, ever since the Wimbledon last year. She suffered a hamstring injury during the first round of last year’s Wimbledon and has not made her return to the circuit yet. With age too catching up with the American, it remains to be seen when she will make a comeback.
Venus Williams
Like Serena. her elder sister Venus Williams too has been out of action ever since August last year. She last played in the WTA Chicago. Before the tournament she had to pull out of the Wimbledon in the second round due to a back injury. She was granted a wildcard during the Australian Open, but she pulled out of the event as she felt she was still not 100% fit. 41-year old Venus has now slipped to 464th in the World rankings and it remains to be seen whether she could return to the circuit.
Stanislas Wawrinka
36-year old Stanislas Wawrinka has been out of action for over a year now as he is recovering from a left foot injury. The former World No.3 last played the Qatar Open in 2021, where he made a first round exit. Ever since then, he has been out of action and is now aiming to get back on the ciruit for the Monte Carlo Masters that begins next month.
Miami Open 2022 pullouts: World No.1 Ash Barty & Rafael Nadal headlines Miami Open withdrawals- check full list
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