The Australian tennis scene has been dealt a devastating blow as Ajla Tomljanovic, their most prominent WTA player, pulled out of the French Open due to a persistent knee injury. This withdrawal has shattered a historic streak, leaving Australia without a direct entrant in the women’s singles at the prestigious tournament for the first time in 55 years.
Having not played since last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November, world No.46 Tomljanovic was hoping to finally return to competition at the 2023 French Open. Talking to the media ahead of the clay-court major in Paris, the Croatian-born Australian revealed a heartbreaking truth that she still needed more time to properly recover her body.