Top 10 players who have withdrawn from Italian Open 2025

Six-time winner Novak Djokovic will miss the event.

The Italian Open 2025 has been bolstered by the return of its local hero, Jannik Sinner, who was serving a three-month suspension at the hands of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The competition completes the clay slam and is particularly important as it serves players with the opportunity to prepare themselves ahead of the all-important French Open.

Carlos Alcaraz is set to play in Rome after missing the Madrid Open. The women’s field features all top players, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, reigning champion Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, and many more.

The tennis calendar has been power-packed, with tournaments coming thick and fast. Not all players can survive such a tough schedule, leading to many big-name omissions. Here’s a look at the top 10 players who’ve pulled out of the Italian Open 2025.

Zhizhen Zhang

Zhizhen Zhang has withdrawn from the Italian Open 2025, his last appearance on the ATP Tour coming at Indian Wells, where he lost to Gabriel Diallo in the opening round.

His continued absence from competition has raised questions, as there has been no official clarification on any injury or health concern. In his place, Hugo Gaston entered the draw but was beaten by Nicholas Jarry in the first round, in straight sets.

Marketa Vondrousova

Markéta Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has been ruled out due to persistent shoulder issues. The 25-year-old Czech has been battling the injury since February, first retiring during her second-round match at the Adelaide International. Her most recent appearance came at the Dubai Open, where she suffered a second-round defeat to Mirra Andreeva.

Shang Juncheng

Shang Juncheng will also miss the competition due to ongoing injury concerns. The 20-year-old Chinese prospect has been sidelined since the Australian Open, where he was forced to retire from his first-round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Shang underwent successful surgery on his right leg in March 2025 and has been recovering since.

Alejandro Tabilo

Alejandro Tabilo‘s challenging season continues, as the Chilean has withdrawn from the Rome event due to a left wrist injury. Despite a poor 4–8 win-loss record this year, Tabilo shocked the tennis world in Monte Carlo by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Unfortunately, his momentum was halted by the wrist injury, which had previously ruled him out of the Munich and Madrid Opens.

Barbora Krejcikova

Two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from the Italian Open 2025 due to ongoing back issues. These lingering injuries had already sidelined her from the Australian Open, the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments earlier this year.

The Czech star has not played a single match in 2025, with her presence at the Roland Garros this year looking highly uncertain.

Kei Nishikori

Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the ATP-1000 event due to injury concerns, although he recently competed in Madrid. However, the Japanese showed signs of physical concerns when he handed a walkover to his opponent in Houston. It has been an injury-plagued season, and the 35-year-old continues to fight the odds.

Karolina Muchova

In a last-minute development, Karolina Muchova has withdrawn from the Italian Open 2025 due to a wrist injury. Recurrence of these old injuries could pose a major threat to her tennis future. Her withdrawal allowed Laura Siegemund to enter the main draw.

Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils announced his decision to withdraw from the Italian Open 2025, much to the disappointment of his fans in Italy. The Frenchman withdrew before his scheduled second-round match against Andrey Rublev due to illness.

Earlier, Monfils triumphed in the round of 128 clash against Borna Gojo in three sets. While the exact cause of his withdrawal remains unconfirmed, illness is considered the most likely reason for his decision not to compete in Rome.

Paula Badosa

Paula Badosa has withdrawn from the Italian Open 2025 due to a recurring low back injury that has plagued her throughout the season. After missing the Indian Wells Open, she briefly returned at the Miami Open but was forced to retire mid-match in the round of 16 due to renewed back pain.

The chronic nature of the injury has once again ruled out the Spaniard, although she is optimistic about a return later this year. Viktorija Golubic replaced her in the main draw.

Novak Djokovic

Since his semi-final run at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has experienced four opening-round exits out of the five tournaments he has featured in, at the hands of lower-ranked players. The 37-year-old Serbian, once known for his unmatched consistency, now appears to be nearing the twilight of his career, struggling to regain his former form.

Currently on a three-match losing streak, Djokovic has withdrawn to take a break to refresh and rejuvenate ahead of Roland Garros 2025. The Serbian expressed disappointment over missing the Italian Open, saying, “Rome, I will miss you. I hope we meet again next year.”

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