Italian Open star withdraws from tournament just hours before match as statement issued | Tennis | Sport

Another big name has withdrawn from the Italian Open, with Amanda Anisimova pulling out just hours before her opening match in Rome. The American has not played a match in more than six weeks due to a wrist injury, and the same issue has forced her out of the Italian Open.

Anisimova was due to face Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth match of the day on Court Pietrangeli on Thursday. The third match had just gotten underway when the world No. 6 announced her withdrawal. She has been replaced by lucky loser Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Anisimova has yet to get her clay season underway, also missing recent tournaments in Charleston and Madrid. The 24-year-old had travelled to Rome and spent the last few days practising on-site, but still isn’t ready to compete.

Anisimova was the sixth seed in Rome and received a bye directly to the second round. But Ruse has taken her place and will now face former French Open champion Ostapenko, who blitzed Lucrezia Stefanini 6-0 6-1 in her opening match here.

In a statement, Italian Open organisers tweeted: “Amanda Anisimova has withdrawn due to a left wrist injury. Elena Gabriela Ruse takes her place in the draw as a lucky loser. We wish Amanda a speedy recovery.”

Last year, Anisimova lost her opening match at the Italian Open, so she will not lose any ranking points as a result of her withdrawal. But it raises wider concerns about her fitness ahead of the French Open.

The world No. 6 has yet to play a match on clay this year. Anisimova has not appeared on the entry lists for either the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg or the WTA 250 in Rabat – the last two clay events before Roland Garros – but she could ask for a wildcard if she wants to compete.

Anisimova also becomes the third player to pull out of the Italian Open after the draw was made on the women’s side. Recent Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk withdrew, citing a hip injury.

And British No. 1 Emma Raducanu pulled out on Tuesday evening, shortly after completing pre-tournament media duties. The 23-year-old has been struggling with a post-viral illness and has not played a match since Anisimova beat her in Indian Wells in early March.