A list of top players set to miss out from the Australian Open 2022

Many iconic players will remain absent from the first Grand Slam event of the year at Melbourne Park.

The 110th edition of the Australian Open has already begun at the Melbourne Park. It is the first major Grand Slam of the year and the buzz and expectations are reaching sky high already. While the tournament will display many quality players, controversies have already surrounded the Grand Slam event before it even started.

Serbian superstar and record Australian Open winner, Novak Djokovic was recently deported from the country ahead of the tournament. The issue has garnered widespread public attention and has become the talk of the town. Apart from the Serb, a number of major players will also remain absent at the tournament. These players will not be able to participate in the tournament because of various individual reasons.

Let's check out who are the top players who will be absent at Australian Open 2022.

8. Bianca Andreescu

2019 US open winner Bianca Andreescu has pulled out of the Australian Open 2022. She has attributed her problems with physical and mental health reasons and plans to return later this year. Andreescu has decided to spend this time to "reset, recover and grow" and plans to come back stronger than ever.

Bianca returned to the Australian Open in 2021 after missing out in 2020 because of a knee injury. However, she could only make it to the second round after falling against Hsieh Su-Wei (3-6, 2-6).

7. Jennifer Brady

Australian Open 2021 finalist Jennifer Brady is yet another major name who will be missing out on the tournament in this edition. The 25th seed Brady would miss the 2022 tournament owing to a foot injury. The 26-year-old American has not played competitively since being forced to retire from her second-round match against Jelena Ostapenko. That match was contested at Cincinnati in August 2021.

Brady's last exploit at the tournament ended in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat against Naomi Osaka. With a 69% win percentage here, Jennifer is surely going to miss being on her favorite court.

6. Karolina Muchova

From the finalist of 2021, we come down to last year's semi-finalist. Karolina Muchova hasn't played due to injury following a first-round loss at US Open in September. She officially announced her decision on her Twitter handle.

Her performance at the Australian Open 2021 was her best career result. She also broke into the top 20 that year with her impressive display. However, a stomach injury will not make it possible in the ongoing edition. Ironically, she lost her last match here to another absentee, Jennifer Brady. The match finished with a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 scoreline for the Czech star.

5. Dominic Thiem

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem has pulled out of Australian Open due to a long-standing wrist injury. The former world No. 3 took to Twitter to announce his withdrawal. However, he assured the fans of making his return at the Melbourne Park in 2023.

Thiem was the runner-up here in 2020 and also reached the fourth round in the last edition. The 2020 finals against Novak Djokovic was a classic. The five-set match went back and forth with Thiem coming short at the end.

4. Karolina Pliskova

Pliskova announced in December 2021 that she would not be coming to Australia because of a right hand injury sustained during a practice session.

The fourth seeded women's player is currently recovering from a hand injury. Pliskova's most notable performance at the Melbourne Park was at the 2019 edition, reaching the semi-finals before losing against eventual winner Naomi Osaka in three sets (2-6, 6-4, 4-6).

Pliskova's absence would invariably be a big miss at the Australian Open 2022 as she had been in good touch at the Grand Slam events since the Wimbledon.

3. Roger Federer

Tennis superstar Roger Federer had to pull out from the Australian Open 2022. The 40-year-old is out of the men's draw as he continues his long recovery from a knee surgery.

The former six-time champion is expected to return in mid-2022 as he heals from multiple knee surgeries. This would be his second consecutive year to remain absent at the Australian Open. His previous success came here in 2018 when he beat Marin Cilic in a brilliant five-set game (6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1).

2. Serena Williams

The American superstar is a record seven-time Australian Open champion. In the previous edition, she made it to the semifinals before Naomi Osaka beat her in straight sets (3-6, 4-6).

Unfortunately for Williams, she decided to opt out of the tournament following advice from her medical team. She is still dealing with a hamstring injury that she suffered in her first round match at the Wimbledon in July.

1. Novak Djokovic

Finally we come down to the man, who unlike the rest will not be missing out due to sustaining an injury. The Serbian lost his last ditch court bid to stay in Australia and was deported from the country recently. The decision has inadvertently ended his chances of defending his Australian Open title and winning a record 21st Grand Slam.

Although Djokovic's defense pleaded his case by calling the Australian government's decision "invalid and illogical," it could do little to salvage his situation. As a result, the unvaccinated 34-year-old will have no choice but to relinquish his quest of the Australian Open title in 2022.

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