Australian Open : Vondrousova withdraws, Townsend in
American Taylor Townsend has entered the Australian Open main draw as a lucky loser following the last-minute withdrawal of the 32nd seed, Marketa Vondrousova. The former Wimbledon champion was forced to pull out just an hour before her scheduled first-round match on court n°13 due to persistent shoulder complications. Vondrousova, who had been struggling with … Continued
Taylor Townsend US Open 2023
American Taylor Townsend has entered the Australian Open main draw as a lucky loser following the last-minute withdrawal of the 32nd seed, Marketa Vondrousova.
The former Wimbledon champion was forced to pull out just an hour before her scheduled first-round match on court n°13 due to persistent shoulder complications. Vondrousova, who had been struggling with the injury since the start of the season in Adelaide, expressed her disappointment in a statement to her fans:
“I’m really sorry that I had to withdraw from the Australian Open due to ongoing shoulder issues. After everything I’ve been dealing with, I need to prioritize health, even though this decision wasn’t easy. Thank you all for your understanding and support.”
Baptiste for Townsend
The withdrawal marks a devastating start to the 2026 season for the Czech star, who had already missed significant time in 2025 following surgery on the same shoulder. Her absence opens a major opportunity for Townsend, who lost in the final round of qualifying to Storm Hunter but now finds herself back in the mix.
Townsend is now taking Vondrousova’s place in the draw to face fellow American Hailey Baptiste. For the 29-year-old Townsend, this “lucky loser” promotion offers a chance to build on a strong doubles season and secure vital ranking points in the singles main draw.
