Some of the top-notch players have pulled out of Wimbledon 2021 (Withdraw From Wimbledon). But that has not stopped the anticipation from brewing ahead of the tournament.
The 134th edition of Wimbledon 2021 is less than 24 hours away and needless to say, the excitement is at a high. Wimbledon was the only grand slam that could not occur last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Thus, the anticipation level around the upcoming event is a lot more and the fans hope for another cracking grand slam event.
Nevertheless, it might be worth noting the absence of some star players set to skip the event due to a host of personal reasons. As many as 16 players would not be part of this year’s Wimbledon. Hence, their replacements will see it as a golden opportunity to make their mark in the grandest stage.
We take a look at the top five players to withdraw from Wimbledon 2021:
Dominic Thiem:
Dominic Thiem sustained a wrist injury during his Mallorca Open 2021 opening match against France’s Adrian Mannarino. Dominic Thiem made a promising start against Mannarino, taking a 5-2 lead. However, the Austrian’s wrist injury forced him to pull out of the entire competition in the eighth game.
He revealed via Instagram his scans found a “detachment of the posterior sheath of the ulnar side of the right wrist”. Thiem elaborated by stating that he has to wear a splint for five weeks before beginning his rehab to regain mobility and muscle strength.
The 27-year old highlighted that not only he has to withdraw from Wimbledon but also Hamburg and Gstaad Open. Later, Thiem announced that he would not participate in the Olympics either, setting his sights on defending his US Open title.
Stan Wawrinka:
Stan Wawrinka withdrew from Wimbledon 2021, owing to his persistent foot troubles. Stan Wawrinka, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2014 and 2015, underwent an operation on his left foot in March. Wawrinka will continue his recovery from the same.
The 36-year old has not stepped into the court since his first-round defeat at the hands of Lloyd Harris at the Qatar Open in March. The Swiss has won the French Open, US Open, and the Australian Open once each. Furthermore, he has won a gold medal in the men’s double event at the 2008 Summer Olympics with Roger Federer.
Simona Halep:
Defending champion Simona Halep announced, on Friday, she would not be competing in Wimbledon 2021, owing to a calf injury. The world number three revealed she sustained the calf injury last month at the Italian Open. The Romanian will skip her second consecutive grand slam after pulling out of the French Open this year.
Simona Halep took to her official Instagram handle and revealed giving everything to participate in the Wimbledon. The 29-year old was raring to defend her title, but hopes to return next year by maintaining her fitness. Halep further claimed to be upset about missing two majors this year.
Naomi Osaka:
Japanese Tennis Star Naomi Osaka had to bear the brunt of not choosing to attend press conferences due to depression problems. The media vilified Naomi Osaka for not fulfilling her media obligations and as a result, she opted out of Roland Garros midway. She pulled out before competing in the second round against Ana Bogdan.
On the 17th of June, the 23-year old revealed her decision to withdraw from Wimbledon as well. The World Number two underlined she wants to spend time with her family and friends. Nevertheless, Osaka expressed her desire to represent Japan in the Tokyo Olympics in front of her home crowd.
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Rafael Nadal:
Rafael Nadal endured a comprehensive defeat against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of 2021 Roland Garros 2021. As a result, Nadal’s run as champion came to an end for the first time since 2016. The draining clay-court season was too much for him and the short break between two majors did not allow enough recovery time.
Hence, the 20-time grand slam champion withdrew from Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympics 2021 to prolong his career. The Spanish star wrote on Twitter that he aims to keep fighting for his professional and personal goals at the highest level of competition. It is the second majors he would be skipping in a year after opting out of the 2020 US Open.
Also Read: Serena Williams Joins Rafael Nadal, Withdraws From Tokyo Olympics 2021