Two former Cincinnati Open women’s singles finalists withdraw from tournament
MASON, Ohio —
Two former Cincinnati Open women’s singles finalists are set to miss the tournament this week due to injury.
Former tournament runners-up Jasmine Paolini and Karolina Muchova both announced on Friday that they would be withdrawing from the Cincinnati Open to focus on recovery after each recently suffered injuries while on the court.
Jasmine Paolini, 30 (left) & Karolina Muchova, 29 (right)
“We’ve decided that I won’t be in Cincinnati either,” Paolini, 30, wrote in an Instagram story on Friday. “After last year’s final, I was really looking forward to being back, but now the focus is on being 100% ready for the U.S. Open and rest of the season. Thank you for your support.”
The Italian national was also forced to miss two other tournaments over the past month as a result of complications stemming from a left foot injury.
Paolini was the runner-up in last year’s Cincinnati Open women’s singles final, falling to eventual tournament champion Iga Swiatek in two sets by a score of 7-5, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Muchova also withdrew from the tournament on Friday, with the announcement coming just weeks after she said that she underwent surgery after competing in Wimbledon.
“I had to undergo a small surgery that will keep me off the court for a few weeks,” wrote Muchova on Instagram on July 18. “Everything went well, and I’m already working on my recovery. Thank you for all your messages and support. I’ll be back soon.”
The Czech national did not provide any further details on the nature of her injury.
Muchova, 29, was the 2023 runner-up in the Cincinnati Open women’s singles final, losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff by a score of 6-3, 6-4.
Muchova is currently ranked as the sixth-best women’s singles tennis player in the world, while Paolini is ranked 15th.
This comes as reigning Cincinnati Open men’s singles finalist Carlos Alcaraz was also forced to pull out of the tournament this week as he battles a wrist injury that has kept him sidelined for several months.
The Cincinnati Open’s qualifying round is set to begin on Aug. 11, with final matches scheduled for Aug. 23.