The field for the upcoming Korea Open has been weakened after Karolina Muchova and Emma Navarro withdrew.
Withdrawals from events after a Grand Slam are common. Tournament organizers would have expected to lose some players, but high-profile names like Muchova and Navarro pulling out is a blow.
Muchova returned from over nine months out with a wrist injury during this year's grass-court season. The serious problem required surgery, which delayed her return to the court by several months.
The Czech has been unlucky with several injuries in the past. Those problems have no doubt stopped the extremely talented 28-year-old from reaching her full potential.
She showed some flashes of her best before the US Open, including reaching the final of the WTA-250 tournament in Palermo, where she lost to the eventual Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng in three compelling sets.
However, expectations were still not high for Muchova at the US Open. Few expected her to go far in New York because of her lack of match practice before the year's final Grand Slam.
Muchova confounded those expectations with a terrific run at Flushing Meadows. She made headlines with an outrageous shot behind her back during the opening round against Katie Volynets.
Last year's French Open runner-up reached the semifinal without dropping a set, sealing her place by defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia. She also overcame the two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the second round.
The Czech's great tournament ended heartbreakingly after she lost to Jessica Pegula despite holding a 6-1, 2-0 advantage. Pegula spoke afterward about the mental battle she faced to turn that match around.
Muchova's injury history makes her decision to withdraw from the tournament in Seoul entirely understandable. She does not want to push herself too hard after the effort and time it took to overcome her wrist injury.
Emma Navarro's withdrawal will also disappoint the organizers and fans. The American is currently at a career-high ranking of No. 8 after an outstanding breakthrough season.
Navarro also reached the semifinals of the US Open. Her most notable triumph was knocking out the defending champion, Coco Gauff, in the fourth round. She lost the semifinal to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka in two competitive sets.
The American's other achievements this year include winning her maiden WTA Tour title in Hobart, reaching the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, and getting to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
Navarro has also played more matches this year than any other WTA player, notching up 72 appearances. In addition, she is level with Iga Swiatek for the most victories in 2024 with 51.
That means a break of some kind is undoubtedly necessary for Navarro. She does possess great fitness and is young at 23 years old, but her schedule this year would be brutal for any player.
The Korea Open organizers will now be even more relieved that Iga Swiatek is playing in Seoul. Swiatek may be doing this to try and get some points in her race with Aryna Sabalenka to finish the year as the world No. 1, currently leading the Belarusian by just over 400 points.
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