Jasmine Paolini Withdraws from Canadian Open Due to Foot Injury, Further Thinning Player Field
Italian tennis professional Jasmine Paolini has confirmed her decision to skip the upcoming North American hard-court events, specifically the WTA 500 Washington Open and the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Toronto. The athlete cited a persistent foot injury as the reason for her withdrawal, emphasizing the need for recovery before the season's crucial final tournaments. This announcement comes after a somewhat difficult year for Paolini, despite a commendable quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon.
Paolini, who previously reached two Grand Slam finals, displayed signs of resilience at Wimbledon this season. However, her overall performance in 2026 has seen her ranking slip outside the top 10 in late May. Her absence from these significant lead-up tournaments to the US Open poses a challenge to her momentum. Despite being projected as the 14th seed in Toronto, she made the difficult choice to prioritize her long-term health on Monday.
The current world No. 15 is anticipated to return to the circuit at the Cincinnati Open. This tournament holds special significance for her, as she enjoyed one of her career's most successful runs there last season, reaching the final. The Cincinnati Open will be her sole hard-court appearance before she heads to New York for the US Open, her fourth Grand Slam event of the year.
The Canadian Open is experiencing a wave of high-profile withdrawals, with Paolini adding her name to an already extensive list of injured players. The 30-year-old emphasized that her foot requires additional recuperation time before she can return to competitive play. In a statement shared on her social media, she expressed regret for not participating, wishing all competitors success and thanking her fans for their unwavering support.
This tournament has been particularly affected by injuries, with several other notable players also pulling out. Reigning champion Victoria Mboko is unable to defend her title due to an ankle injury sustained at the Berlin Ladies Open. Other prominent players, including Karolina Muchova, Emma Raducanu, and Hailey Baptiste, have also withdrawn from the event, further diminishing the competitive field just weeks before the US Open. On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz remains sidelined by a wrist injury, although he is expected to return at the Cincinnati Open.
With numerous top-tier athletes absent, the Toronto tournament presents a unique opportunity for lower-ranked seeds and players in good form to advance deep into the competition, potentially setting the stage for unexpected outcomes before the season's ultimate Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.