Top-ranked Tennis players who pulled out of Grand Slams due to injuries

Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer on Sunday withdrew from the French Open saying that he needs to take care of his knees and body. The Swiss player is one of the few players who decided to drop out from the ongoing competition in Paris. 

Tennis is a sport that tests the athletes’ agility, stamina, strength, fortitude and many other physical aspects alongside the mental aspects of a sport. The players go through intense sessions of workout drills, training sessions and diet regimes to keep themselves fit while also having longevity. But time and again, injuries have struck athletes including some of the best players in the world.

Here is a list of top-ranked players who withdrew from the grand slam due to injuries

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Naomi Osaka

World No 2, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the ongoing French Open saying that she had been suffering bouts of depression for several years and wants to prioritize her mental health. She announced her decision after her first-round win.

Ashleigh Barty

Ashleigh Barty from Australia on Thursday withdrew from the French Open 2021, becoming the latest top-ranked player to withdraw from a grand slam. After losing the first set 6-2 to Magda Linette, it was all even at 2-2 when she walked to her chair and signalled that she would not be able to continue.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has often struggled with injuries in his career. Before the start of Wimbledon 2009, Nadal was the reigning champion and the world number one. But the Spaniard could not participate in the tournament due to a knee injury. He eventually slumped from the number one spot in a few days.

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Petra Kvitova

Kvitova is a two-time grand slam winner and former world number two. In French Open 2021, after her victory in the first round over Greet Minnen on May 30, she announced in the press conference that she would pull out of the tournament due to an ankle injury.

Roger Federer

Reigning champion, Federer, prior to Wimbledon 2010, came through days of injuries. After avoiding a shock loss to Alejandro Falla in the first round, he lost to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. Later, in the press conference, the Swiss said that he was carrying a back and right leg injuries.

Withdrawing from the French Open 2021, Federer said, “After two knee surgeries and over a year of rehabilitation it’s important that I listen to my body and make sure I don’t push myself too quickly on my road to recovery.”

He took the decision the day after a gruelling third-round win over Dominik Koepfer. He was scheduled to face Italian ninth seed Matteo Berrettini on Monday.

Federer underwent two knee surgeries last year and had played only three matches in 16 months before coming to the in French Open.