"Heartbroken" - Ex-Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from Australian Open 2025 hours before opening match

Czechia's Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the ongoing 2025 Australian Open just hours before her scheduled opening match. The 2023 Wimbledon Champion stated that prioritizing her health prompted the decision.

She issued a statement on social media which was later shared by The Tennis Letter on X.

“Heartbroken to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an injury I sustained in Adelaide. I was looking forward to the tournament but health comes first. Thank you for your support and hopefully see you on court soon ✊🥲"

Check out the post below:

Marketa Vondrousova made an impressive return at the 2025 Adelaide International after missing last season's second half. She triumphed over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a high-intensity first-round clash, winning 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2. Notably, Vondrousova delivered a career-best 22 aces, far surpassing her previous tour-level record of nine in a single match.

Vondrousova won the opening set 6-4 in her second match on Wednesday, January 8. However, appearing visibly uncomfortable, the Czech requested medical assistance at 1-1 in the second set. After consulting with the physio, she retired from the match.

The condition of former World No. 6 has not improved, leading to her withdrawal from the Australian Open. Vondrousova was scheduled to face Jana Fett in the first round on Monday, January 13. Following her withdrawal, lucky loser Harriet Dart was given a main draw spot to face Fett.

Marketa Vondrousova last competed at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships before returning to Adelaide

Marketa Vondrousova at 2024 French Open - Image Source: Getty

Marketa Vondrousova’s last match before returning to Adelaide this year was at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The 25-year-old had suffered a severe injury in Berlin just days before her SW19 campaign.

Facing Anna Kalinskaya at the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin, Vondrousova suffered a serious leg injury after slipping during a split step on the first point of the ninth game.

She later returned to the Wimbledon Championships as the defending champion, but her campaign was short-lived, as she was knocked out in the first round by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The World No. 38 also became the first female Wimbledon singles champion since Steffi Graf in 1994 to exit in the opening round.

The injuries caused her to miss the rest of the 2024 season, including tournaments like the Paris Olympics and the US Open. Vondrousova's career highlight was winning the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.