The upcoming WTA tournament in Toronto will be missing several top-ranked players, as a number of them have pulled out due to fatigue and injuries following a grueling schedule, including the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
Iga Swiatek, the world’s number one player from Poland and a five-time Grand Slam champion, announced her withdrawal from the Toronto event on Friday. Swiatek, who secured a bronze medal in Paris after defeating Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-1, cited overall fatigue as the reason for her decision. The 23-year-old, who also clinched her third consecutive French Open title earlier this year, emphasized the need to rest and recover in preparation for the upcoming US Open series.
“I regret to inform my fans that I won’t be able to participate in the Toronto tournament due to general exhaustion from the past few weeks of intense competition,” Swiatek said in a statement. “The Olympics, combined with transitioning between different playing surfaces, have left me in need of additional rest. My priority now is to ensure I am healthy and in top form for the US swing.”
The withdrawals continued with Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning Wimbledon champion and world number 10, who cited a thigh injury. The Czech player had a strong showing in Paris, reaching the quarter-finals in both singles and doubles. However, she acknowledged that the demanding schedule had taken a toll on her body.
“The last month has been remarkable, but the heavy schedule has affected my health,” Krejcikova stated. “I must prioritize my well-being to maintain my best performance level.”
Elena Rybakina, ranked fourth in the world, also announced her withdrawal due to health issues. The Kazakh player has been dealing with acute bronchitis, which already forced her out of the Paris Olympics.
“Despite my efforts to recover, my current health situation prevents me from competing at the necessary level,” Rybakina said.
Additionally, the tournament will be without several other top players, including Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (ranked fifth), Greece’s Maria Sakkari (eighth), American Danielle Collins (ninth), Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova (18th), and France’s Caroline Garcia (26th).
Tournament director Karl Hale expressed understanding of the situation, acknowledging the unique challenges faced by athletes representing their countries at the Olympics.
“We recognize the honor and responsibility athletes feel when competing for their nations, especially in an individual sport like tennis,” Hale said. “It’s essential for players to prioritize their health, recovery, and scheduling to ensure they can continue to perform at their best.”
With these significant withdrawals, the tournament’s main draw has been adjusted. Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, and former world number one Karolina Pliskova have all advanced to the main draw.
Despite the absences, the Toronto event will still feature notable names, including reigning US Open champion and world number two Coco Gauff from the United States, and Aryna Sabalenka, the third-ranked Belarusian player, who were finalists in last year’s US Open. They now headline the tournament as top seeds.
