Top Players to Miss Australian Open

Several prominent players will be unable to participate due to injuries or their failure to qualify in time, which will be a disappointment to fans who were eagerly anticipating their participation in the first Grand Slam of the season. Let’s review the list of notable players who will miss this year’s tournament.

Jack Draper

Jack Draper’s 2024 Australian Open campaign came to a premature end when he retired in the fourth round against Carlos Alcaraz, resulting in a less-than-ideal finish to the tournament. As he continues to nurse the injury he sustained towards the end of last year, the 24-year-old British player will be absent from this year’s competition. Nevertheless, Draper’s impressive display in Australia last year paved the way for a successful first half of the season, including his maiden ATP 1000 title win at Indian Wells. His absence from the tournament will give other competitors a chance to make further progress.

Victor Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka, a two-time champion, is set to miss the tournament for the first time in six years due to a string of injuries that have limited her to 12 tournaments over the past 12 months. As a result, the 36-year-old Belarusian has dropped outside the top 100 rankings, making her ineligible for automatic entry into the event. The organizers have instead opted not to grant her a wildcard entry, a decision that has sparked controversy among fans, who feel it is unfair given Azarenka’s impressive record in Melbourne, including back-to-back titles. The final wildcard entry was awarded to Venus Williams.

Danielle Collins

One of the top players who will be missing from the Australian Open is Danielle Collins. The 32-year-old American had a dismal 2024, marred by injuries that kept her out of the sport. Later in the year, she disclosed that she had started an egg freezing process. Collins has a remarkable record in Melbourne, having reached the final in the 2022 edition of the event, where she lost to Ashleigh Barty. Her absence will be sorely missed by fans during the event.

Holger Rune

Due to an Achilles injury sustained last year, Holger Rune is set to miss the Australian Open for the first time in four years. The 22-year-old Danish ace has announced a potential return to the court in February to resume his season. Rune reached the fourth round of the tournament last year, losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. The former World Number 4 will be seeking to recapture the form that made headlines two years ago.