Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has announced she will not compete in the upcoming Australian Open 2025 due to a lingering back injury. The last time Krejcikova was on the court was during the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November, where she was defeated by China’s Qinwen Zheng in the semi-finals.
Krejcikova, who also claimed the French Open singles title in 2021, expressed her disappointment about missing this year’s first Grand Slam event. She nostalgically remembered her previous performance at Melbourne Park, where she advanced to the quarter-finals.
In a message posted on ‘X’, Krejcikova shared, “I wanted to give a quick update regarding my withdrawal from the Australian Open. Sadly, the back injury that bothered me at the end of last season has not fully healed.” She added, “It’s disappointing because I love playing in Melbourne and have such great memories from reaching the quarter-finals last year. I’m working hard to regain my full health and can’t wait to be back on the court soon.”
In addition to Krejcikova, Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova will also miss the tournament. Ukrainian player Yuliia Starodubtseva, currently ranked World No.101, will take Wozniacki’s place in the draw, while World No.102 Rebecca Marino will step in for Pliskova.
The Australian Open is set to run from January 12 to 26, with Aryna Sabalenka defending her title in the women’s singles. If Sabalenka manages to win, she will become the first female player since Martina Hingis to claim the Australian Open three consecutive years, having won it in 2021 and 2022.
