Tennis

4 Grand Slam Champions Have Withdrawn From 2025 Australian Open

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wendioliveros
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wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

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Sports Editor

Published06 Jan 2025

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Australian Open

As of January 6, four WTA Grand Slam champions have withdrawn from the 2025 Australian Open.

They are as follows:

  1. Bianca Andreescu, 2019 US Open champion
  2. Simona Halep, 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion
  3. Barbora Krejcikova, 2021 French Open and 2024 Wimbledon champion
  4. Carolina Wozniacki, 2018 Australian Open champion

Unfortunately, all four players have been plagued with injuries in recent years.  Krejcikova got a late start to her 2024 season due to injury but rebounded well by winning Wimbledon.

The good news is that players who have dealt with early-season injuries appear to be healthy enough to play.

Those include:

  1. Jessica Pegula is making her season debut at Adelaide.  She is playing singles and doubles with Ashlyn Krueger.
  2. Emma Raducanu pulled out of the ASB Classic before her first match.  She has recently been spotting practicing at Melbourne Park.
  3. Naomi Osaka retired from the ASB Classic final but will be ready for Melbourne.

Tournament favorites remain tw0-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka who has played practically flawless tennis in Melbourne since 2023, suffering only one loss in warmup and AO events to Elena Rybakina in 2024 at Brisbane. Sabalenka righted the ship by winning the 2025 Brisbane International title.

Coco Gauff powered through her United Cup matches without dropping a set.  She played incredible tennis against Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek in the semifinals and finals making it impossible to think she will not be in the semifinals or finals at this year’s Australian Open.

2025 Australian Open Favorites

Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka will enter the 2025 Australian Open as the favorites to win the men’s and women’s singles titles.

The current world No. 1, Sinner owns +145 odds to win the Australian Open, well ahead of notable Grand Slam contenders Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. In the women’s bracket, Sabalenka owns +225 odds to win, followed by Iga Swiatek (+350), and Coco Gauff (+400).

Naomi Osaka, who recently was forced to retire with the lead in the ASB Classic final, will enter the first grand slam of 2025 with +1200 odds to win, putting her among the top contenders in the women’s singles bracket.