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There have already been many notable Australian Open 2023 withdrawals. Here are the most prominent in detail.
Australian Open 2023 Withdrawals – A Quick Overview
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The 2023 Australian Open will commence in just a few days time, on Monday, January 16th. This is when both the men’s and women’s singles events will begin. And while many big names are set to play in Melbourne, other big names have fallen by the wayside. For those who don’t follow tennis too closely, it may seem shocking to see that Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Ash Barty aren’t playing.
And as it happens, all of these legends will not be competing in Melbourne because they have retired. Each of these individuals retired in 2022, which was sad, but not entirely unexpected. On that note, we’d like to give you some background information on these players, combined with other news relating to recent withdrawals from the competition.
There is plenty to get through, so let us get the ball rolling right away.
The most significant Australian Open 2023 withdrawals
In the sport of tennis, injuries can come about at any time, unfortunately. The game is very demanding, and naturally, this leads to random injuries. As for others, such wear and tear on the body can prompt retirement, especially for the older players on tour. And below, you will see a combination of these reasons behind the absences of notable players from the first Grand Slam of the 2023 season.
Roger Federer
That’s right, the great Roger Federer will not be making an appearance in the 2023 Australian Open. The 20-time Grand Slam champion chose to hang up his rackets at the 2022 Laver Cup. His emotional send-off meant that the six-time Australian Open champion would officially never take the Rod Laver Arena again. So of course, his name is not in the draw for this year’s tournament.
Serena Williams
If you thought that Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles were impressive, this lady has 23 to her name. Then again, Serena Williams is one of the biggest names there has ever been in sport, never mind tennis. So this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. And just like Roger Federer, Williams decided to retire in 2022, only she did it at the US Open.
Interestingly, Serena’s older sister Venus was due to compete in the 2023 Australian Open, only she has withdrawn through injury (more on this later).
Ash Barty
Of the three retirees listed here, Ash Barty was without question the most surprising of the bunch. Barty won the 2022 Australian Open, reportedly achieving one of her huge childhood dreams. Yet in a surprise announcement not long after this success, Barty revealed to the world that she would be leaving the sport with immediate effect. This meant that she retired at just 25 years of age compared to the 40 years of age seen with Federer and Serena Williams.
Carlos Alcaraz
Now that we’ve covered the absences due to retirement, let’s turn our attention to injuries. Sadly, the current world number one in the men’s game, Carlos Alcaraz, has been forced to withdraw due to a leg injury. He sustained this injury during his preparations for the 2023 Australian Open. This means that as the number 1 seed, he has been replaced at the top by Rafael Nadal.
Venus Williams
At 42 years of age, Venus Williams was still planning on coming to Melbourne to compete. But unfortunately, Williams picked up an injury while playing the ASB Classic in New Zealand last week. This meant that while she hasn’t yet retired from the sport, she has been forced out of the 2023 event. And really, who knows whether Williams will return to Melbourne given the stage of her career.
Naomi Osaka
Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion. She has won the Australian Open twice, yet she has also been added to the list of withdrawals. Interestingly, Osaka hasn’t given any public reason for her withdrawal. Although many speculate that the mental health struggles she has endured in recent times have caused her to pull out.
Australian Open 2023 withdrawals FAQs
Have any of these withdrawals impacted the draws?
Yes. While the draw has yet to be made, Alcaraz’s withdrawal from the men’s event means that the entire seedings have changed. Nadal has moved to become the top seed, and everyone else has been bumped up one spot.
Will there be more withdrawals between now and the start of the tournament?
We would hope that there are no more withdrawals between now and the beginning of the 2023 Australian Open. However, there are a few injury doubts surrounding some top players.
What happens if any players withdraw once the draw has been made?
Usually, a player who lost in the last round of qualifying will move in and take their spot. But if it is done too late, the opponent will get a ‘bye’ to the second round.
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