7 players who will miss Australian Open 2025 ft. Bianca Andreescu, Caroline Wozniacki

The tennis season is set to return with the much-anticipated Australian Open 2025. The top stars from the ATP and WTA will be back on the court after a break over the holiday season. Jannik Sinner will be the defending champion in the men's division while Aryna Sabalenka will defend her title in the women's section in Melbourne.

While a star-studded line-up is set to grace the courts of Australia, a few of the ATP and WTA players have announced their withdrawal from the tournament. Here is a list of five players who have withdrawn from the Australian Open 2025:

#1. Simona Halep

Simona Halep announced her decision to withdraw from the Australian Open after feeling pain in her knee and shoulder. The Romanian was granted a wildcard for the event but opted to start her season later.

The former World No. 1 is still finding her feet after her professional ban ended last year. Halep suffered fresh injury concerns at the World Tennis League exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. She later announced that she would skip the Auckland Classic tournament as well as the Australian Open.

#2. Caroline Wozniacki

Former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki has withdrawn from the first Grand Slam of the season due to unspecified reasons. The Danish star impressed on her return to tennis in 2023 after initially opting to retire in 2020.

Wozniacki, a former World No. 1, won the Australian Open in 2018 before retiring two years later. With another withdrawal in Melbourne, there are question marks over the Dane's long-term tennis future.

#3. Emil Ruusuvuori

Emil Ruusuvouri has not played a competitive match since the US Open and the Finnish star has announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open. The 25-year-old announced he is taking a break from tennis due to overloading and is yet to reveal his comeback plans.

The Finnish star impressed with his performances in 2024 but his season was over before the US Open as he decided to focus on his physical and mental health. Ruusuvouri withdrew from the Davis Cup at the end of the last season as well and will start his 2025 season a little later than usual.

#4. Barbora Krejcikova

Reigning Wimbledon Champion Barbora Krejcikova has opted out of the Australian Open. The Czech star is still nursing a back injury that she sustained during the second half of the 2024 season.

Krejcikova reached the quarter-finals of the tournament last season, which helped her end the season at the top of the 10 WTA rankings. However, the Czech will drop 430 ranking points from her Melbourne outing last year and could drop out of the top 10 of the WTA rankings by the end of the tournament.

#5. Karolina Pliskova

Karolína Plíšková is set to miss the first two months of 2025 due to a fresh injury. The former World No. 1 has revealed her comeback plans as she aims for a return to tennis by March.

Pliskova, who has reached two Grand Slam finals in her career, has dropped outside the top 30 in the WTA rankings. The Czech star is planning on returning to the American hard court season in March and will miss the Australian Open in Melbourne.

#6. Bianca Andreescu

Bianca Andreescu is set to miss the start of the 2025 season after she withdrew from the Australian Open. The Canadian star suffered an injury at the ASB Classic tournament in New Zealand.

The former US Open champion struggled for form during the 2024 season. The Canadian is yet to find her from after bursting onto the tennis scene with a US Open title win in 2019. Andreescu could return in time for the American hard court season in March.

#7. Venus Williams

Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open 2025. The 42-year-old was offered a wildcard for the tournament, which she accepted but has now opted out of the draw.

The American star is one of the most decorated women's players of all time, having won seven Grand Slam titles. Venus Williams made her tennis debut at the Australian Open, 25 years earlier in 1999.