Karolina Muchova will extend her time off due to injury after pulling out from the forthcoming WTA 1000 tournament in Doha.
The 2024 Qatar Open is scheduled to begin on February 11th and run till the 17th. It is a premier hard-court tournament featuring the world's best players and the first of the 1000-level doubleheaders taking place in the Middle East swing this month.
Muchova has been stricken with a debilitating wrist injury she picked up at last year's US Open. She reached the semifinal of the last Grand Slam of 2023 and has not been seen anywhere near a match court since.
The writing was on the wall from the moment she withdrew from the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancun. The Czech had played all season splendidly, reaching her first Grand Slam final at the French Open and coming within a few games from dethroning Iga Swiatek as the champion.
After years of battling injuries, it looked like the 27-year-old had finally got a lucky break with her health. Muchova began playing tennis, which reflected the true nature of her talent. But she's now received another tough stroke of bad fortune.
Her wrist injury is not yet cured. Muchova issued an update at the end of December last year, where she stated that pain recurred during a practice session and she had to withdraw from the Australian summer.
She hasn't played in 2024, and it looks increasingly likely she will also pull out from the next WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai in the subsequent week. No reason has been given pertaining to her absence in Doha, but it's most certainly the wrist issue that has been bothering her for a while.
Muchova has dropped two spots from her career-high mark in the rankings and is now the World No. 10. Her main draw berth will now go to compatriot Linda Noskova, who was waiting on the wings among the alternates.
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