Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Sunday, January 18, 2026, 07:56 / Updated Sunday, January 18, 2026 07:56
Marketa Vondrousova (26, #34 WTA), the 2023 Wimbledon champion, dropped out of the Australian Open just before the first round, where she was to meet American Hailey Baptiste (24, #66 WTA). The Czech's decision comes after constant shoulder problems.
The Czech's place on the main draw was thus taken over by Taylor Townsend (29 years old, #116 WTA), from the position of lucky loser.
Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Australian Open: “This decision was not easy”
Vondrousova was seeded number 32 and was going to meet American Hailey Baptiste in the first round. Due to his late withdrawal, lucky loser Taylor Townsend eventually advanced to the main draw. For Vondrousova, it marked a painful end to her stay in Melbourne, even before the tournament really began for her.
Via her Instagram account, the 2023 Wimbledon winner explained her decision: “I am extremely sorry to have to withdraw from the Australian Open. After everything I've been through, I have to prioritize my health, even if this decision was not easy“.
The shoulder injury, which he has been dealing with for a long time, has recurred. The timing of the pullback makes the hit even harder. Last year, Vondrousova seemed to have found her way back to success after a difficult period. She won the WTA Tour in Berlin and later reached the quarter-finals of the US Open, but at the beginning of this season she faced physical problems again.
Previously, she had already withdrawn from the tournament in Adelaide, and in Brisbane her development ended prematurely. Like last year, Vondrousova will miss the Australian Open entirely, again due to the same lingering shoulder problem.
Marketa Vondrousova has one Grand Slam tournament under her belt after defeating Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final in 2023, score 6-4, 6-4.
