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Cancellations after cancellations - The Australian Open leaves its mark

The tournament organizers on the ATP and WTA tour currently have to accept numerous cancellations. After the Australian Open, the professionals are mainly struggling with abdominal muscle injuries.

by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 25, 2021, 11:50 am

Matteo Berrettini couldn't make his round of 16 at the Australian Open
© Getty Images
Matteo Berrettini also has to take a break

Rarely has an abdominal muscle injury caused as much attention as Novak Djokovic's at the Australian Open. The Serb injured himself in the third round against Taylor Fritz, but could not be stopped on the way to his ninth title in Melbourne. The crack in the oblique abdominal muscles increased from 17 millimeters at the beginning to 25 millimeters , said the world number one on the day after his final triumph over Daniil Medvedev.

But not only Djokovic had to struggle with abdominal muscle injuries in the days of Melbourne: Matteo Berrettini, Pablo Carreno Busta and Casper Ruud had to end the Australian Open early due to problems in this area. All three have now also canceled their participation in the next week's ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam. Denis Shapovalov and Taylor Fritz will also not be in the Netherlands. The reason for the two North Americans' cancellations is not yet known.

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However, things are different with Karolina Muchova. The Czech Australian Open semi-finalist, whose crack is said to be even bigger than Djokovic's , did not register for the WTA 500 tournament in Doha due to an abdominal muscle injury and will probably also be canceled for the event in Dubai.

Big reunion in Miami?

Abdominal muscle injuries aren't the only problem tennis pros are currently grappling with, however. World number one Ashleigh Barty canceled the tournament in Doha due to an injury to her left foot, and Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu and Sofia Kenin also withdrew from the event in the capital of Qatar .

In particular, the 14-day quarantine in Australia should have left its mark in view of the numerous cancellations. But there is at least some reason to hope: for the Miami Open, which starts in a month, all top players have announced their participation without exception .

by Nikolaus Fink

Thursday
Feb 25, 2021, 01:10 pm
last edit: Feb 25, 2021, 11:50 am