The first Masters 1000 event combining the ATP and WTA Tours is now very close. Unsurprisingly, the entry list for the women’s singles at the Indian Wells Masters is extremely strong. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff are just two of the top players set to feature. However, five players have withdrawn from the event. This article lists those who have withdrawn and then names their five replacements in the draw.
Five WTA Players Withdraw From Indian Wells Masters
Last year’s French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova is the first player to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters. She has been struggling with a wrist injury, which led to Muchova having to miss the Australian Open. The 27-year-old recently announced that she’d had surgery on the injury, and it is unclear when she will return to professional tennis.
Barbora Krejcikova is the second player to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters. The former French Open winner missed the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai with a back injury. That problem has still not fully recovered, and it is not currently known when she will be back.
Paula Badosa has also withdrawn from the event. Badosa retired from her first-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships with an injury. It was another tough setback for Badosa, who missed half of 2023 with an injury. Hopefully, it is only a minor problem that does not keep her out for months again.
Amanda Anisimova is the fourth player who has elected not to feature at the Indian Wells Masters. The American took an eight-month break from tennis last year, returning in Auckland and then the Australian Open, where she reached the fourth-round. However, Anisimova has not played since the opening Grand Slam of the year. The reason for this is unknown at this stage.
Anastasija Sevastova is the final player to withdraw from the Indian Wells Masters. The Latvian took nearly two years off from professional tennis and won her first match since February 2022 in Cluj-Napoca last month. Unfortunately, Sevastova had to retire from her quarterfinal match in Austin a few days ago due to an injury. She has not recovered in time to feature in California.
Who Replaces Those Five Players In The Draw?
Oceane Dodin replaces Muchova at the Indian Wells Masters. The Frenchwoman had her best run at a Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open by reaching the fourth-round. Dodin will hope to recapture that form at Masters 1000 level.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova benefits from Krejcikova’s decision to withdraw. Schmiedlova most recently had a good tournament in Austin. She reached the semifinal, where she lost to the eventual champion Yuan Yue.
Greet Minnen is set to feature at the Indian Wells Masters due to Badosa’s withdrawal. The Belgian has had a slow start to the season and struggled for victories. She has been given an opportunity to address those difficulties on the Californian hard courts.
Diana Shnaider replaces Anisimova at the Indian Wells Masters. The talented 19-year-old made headlines a few weeks ago by winning her first WTA title at the Hua Hin Championships. If she recaptures that form, Shnaider is a danger to many players in the draw.
Finally, Karolina Pliskova will feature instead of Sevastova. The two-time Grand Slam runner-up claimed her first title since 2020 in Cluj-Napoca a few weeks ago and then progressed to the semifinal in Doha. She seems to be playing with newfound belief, and it will be interesting to observe if Pliskova is able to continue that momentum at the Indian Wells Masters.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
