US Open 2021: Pullouts/ Withdrawals– With just weeks left for the year’s fourth and final grand slam, the focus now shifts to the US Open 2021. The two-week-long tournament will take place in New York from August 30. The event will feature some of the biggest stars in the world of tennis. They are World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Women’s World No. 1 Ash Barty. The tournament will also feature Tokyo Olympics singles champions Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic. However, some key names will miss US Open 2021 due to injury setbacks. They are Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and defending champion Dominic Thiem.
US Open 2021: Pullouts/ Withdrawals
Roger Federer
Roger Federer will miss the upcoming U.S. Open and be sidelined for many months because he needs more knee surgery, an operation that the Swiss great said on Sunday will give him a “glimmer of hope” that he can resume his glittering career.
The 40-year-old Federer, speaking on a video posted to his Instagram account, said doctors told him that to feel better for the medium- to long-term, he would need surgery on the knee that he injured again during the grass-court season.
“I’ll be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months,” Federer said.
“It’s going to be difficult of course in some ways but at the same time I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy and I want to be running around later as well,” he added.
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The 40-year-old has won the US Open 5 times in his career. He is currently level with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal with 20 Grand Slams each. If others win then Federer will slip to second place in men’s singles. He was last seen in the Wimbledon where he lost the last-16 fixture to Hubertz Hurkacz.
Dominic Thiem
2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem pulled out of the US Open 2021 due to injury. He confirmed the development via a tweet post that read:
“I want to update you on my injury and let you know that unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the US Open and will miss the rest of the 2021 season. I’m really disappointed not to be able to defend the title in New York but I haven’t recovered from the wrist injury I suffered back in June at Mallorca Open.”
— Dominic Thiem (@ThiemDomi) August 18, 2021
Stan Wawrinka
2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka withdrew from the US Open as he is yet to recover from foot surgery. The former World No. 3 has an impressive record of 44:13 in the season’s final grand slam. He had won his third major at Flushing Meadows five years ago by defeating World No.1 Djokovic. He has advanced to the quarterfinals for at least six out of the last eight times. His withdrawal paved for former World No.1 and 2012 champion Andy Murray into the main draw.
We hope to see you next year, champ.
💛 @stanwawrinka 💙 pic.twitter.com/43LTYLqpeF
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 9, 2021
US Open 2021: List of players who have pulled out/ withdrawn from year’s fourth grand slam
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(with Reuters inputs)