Australian Open contender Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from tournament due to injury

Czech tennis player Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to injury.

Just hours before she was due to play Croatian world No.134 Jana Fett on Monday, Vondrousova posted a message on her Instagram story saying she was out with an setback she picked up at the Adelaide International last week.

“Heartbroken to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an injury I sustained in Adelaide,” the world No.39 said.

“I was looking forward to the tournament but health comes first.

“Thank you for your support and hopefully see you on court soon.”

Vondrousova had only just returned to the WTA Tour, having undergone shoulder surgery after Wimbledon last year.

She left the court last week in tears after receiving medical attention for what appeared to be a back issue during a timeout in her match against Diana Shnaider, but was later confirmed as a hip problem.

“Terrible news for a great talent. Really hoping she can get healthy again soon,” The Tennis Letter said of the 25-year-old’s withdrawal.

Vondrousova crashed out in the first round at Melbourne Park last year, but has a career-high ranking of No.6, which she reached during her career-best year in 2023.

Vondrousova made history in 2023 when she became the first unseeded woman to win the Wimbledon singles title. She upset Ons Jabeur, 6-4, 6-4.

Brit Harriet Dart is the lucky loser who gets to take Vondrousova’s spot in section two of the women’s draw, which also includes red-hot fifth seed, Zheng Qinwen, who is already showing signs she’s set to go one step further than last year’s run to the title decider in Melbourne.

The Chinese superstar had to fend off a set point in the opening set before storming to a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 victory over Romanian Anca Todini on Sunday.

“I started to feel really nervous yesterday because I feel special emotions for the Australian Open,” Zheng said.

“It’s one of the biggest tournaments and I really like it here.

“But when I feel nervous, actually I play better, I concentrate more and I make less unforced errors.”

Zheng shapes as a huge threat to world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence after backing up her maiden grand slam final appearance with a blazing 2024 campaign.

The 22-year-old made five further finals, winning Olympic gold in Paris and falling only to Coco Gauff in the showpiece season-ending champion decider.

Croatian No.18 seed Donna Vekic also made a winning start to her 13th Australian Open campaign on Sunday, seeing off the challenge of Frenchwoman Diane Parry 6-4, 6-4.

The 28-year-old Vekic recorded her best result at a major last year at Wimbledon, when she advanced to the semis.

In other results, Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa overcame China’s Wang Xinyu 6-3 7-6 (7-5) , 30th-seeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez downed Yuliia Starodubtseva of the Ukraine 7-5 6-4, and Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro stalled a fightback by Brit Sonay Kartal for a 6-1 7-5 win to set up a second round meeting with Sabalenka.

- With AAP