Canada's Bianca Andreescu has withdrawn from the 2023 Qatar Open, which is WTA 500 event starting in Doha next week following a suspected shoulder injury.
The World. No 37 recently retired during her semi-final of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin after receiving treatment for a shoulder problem on the court. Soon after, Andreescu reassured fans using Twitter that all was well and she would make the Middle Eastern swing starting with the Abu Dhabi this week.
But the 22-year-old looked out of sorts when losing to qualifier Yulia Putintseva in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open on Tuesday night with it clear she wasn't 100% fit. And the hope is, by resting during the Doha week, the former US Open champion will be fit enough to take part in the swing-ending Dubai event beginning on February 20.
It is a cruel blow for Andreescu who seemed to be picking up some form in Thailand, reaching the semi-finals without dropping a set. The right-hander had only just been handed a main draw place in Doha after Ons Jabeur pulled out to get minor surgery on a rumoured knee issue.
In her spot comes 2021 Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, who was beaten in straight sets by Liudmila Samsonova in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Next on the entry list for Doha is recent Australian Open semi-finalist Victoria Azarenka who is currently lined up to play qualifying for the event barring anymore injuries or withdrawals.
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