Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 11, 2025
11 active Grand Slam champions have competed in women’s singles at the Australian Open, but only one of them – the 2023 Wimbledon champion. Marketa Vondrousov – was a last minute withdrawal.
Vondrousova announced the news on Monday in Melbourne, where she was replaced by Harriet Dart from Great Britain in the drawing.
Dart entered to face Croatian player Jana Fett.
Marketa Vondrousova, who has played 1.5 matches since Wimbledon (last week in Adelaide), withdraws #AusOpen minutes before his first round match.Down-on-his-luck Harriet Dart stepped in to play Janna Fett. pic.twitter.com/6wAo64apnK
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 13, 2025
“It is heartbreaking to withdraw from the Australian Open because of the injury I received in Adelaide,” Vondrousova wrote on social media. “I was looking forward to this tournament but life comes first. Thank you for your support and I hope to see you in court soon.”
The 25-year-old Czech underwent shoulder surgery in 2024, but his injury is currently in his upper leg. She left her round of 16 match last week in tears after withdrawing due to injury against Diana Shnaider.
In Melbourne he was seen training with heavy ropes tied around his thigh, but he could not get fit enough to compete.
The former Wimbledon champion lost in the first round of her title defense to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. He became the first defending champion to lose in the first round of his Wimbledon title defense since 1994.
