Roland-Garros 2022: From Federer and Murray to Pavlyuchenkova, who is missing, and why?
An updated list of all the marquee players who will not be competing at the 2022 Roland-Garros Championships
The state of Rafael Nadal‘s left foot is occupying many people’s thoughts as we head closer toward Roland-Garros, which starts on May 22.
The 13-time champion admitted he was in “crazy” pain when he was beaten by Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the Rome Masters last week.
And while most doubts have been eased after the Spaniard confirmed that he will arrive in Paris on Wednesday, some doubts remain about what level of fitness he will have.
However, several big-name players have already pulled out of the French Open on the men’s and women’s side. Here’s a list of who’s definitely not playing in Paris in 2022.
The Absent Men from 2022 Roland-Garros:
- Roger Federer: 2009 champion still out with knee injury
The 2009 champion in Paris, Federer has not played on the tour since his quarter-final exit at Wimbledon in 2021. After undergoing a third surgery on his knee right after Wimbledon, Federer has said he intends to comeback in time for the late summer/ early autumn part of the season.
- Matteo Berrettini: Recovering from a right hand surgery
The Italian has been out of action after having hand surgery in March and though his recovery has been good, he is saving himself to be 100 percent ready for the grass-court season and in particular, Wimbledon, where he reached the final last year.
- Andy Murray: No Clay to focus on Grass season in 2022
The former world No 1 had originally decided not to play any clay events but made a U-turn and played in Madrid, but having pulled out sick before a match with Novak Djokovic, the Scot has gone back to prepare for the grass-court season.
- Roberto Bautista Agut: Wrist injury keeps him away from Paris
World No 19 Roberto Bautista Agut has also joined the absentee list in Paris, pulling out due to injury.
- Gael Monfils: Heel injury keeps Monfils at home
The French No 1 Monfils has also pulled out of the French Open due to injury. Monfils, a semi-finalist in 2008 in Paris, also announced earlier in the week that his wife and he are expecting their first child together in October.
- Nick Kyrgios: To return to clay in 2023
The enigmatic Australian has not played at Roland-Garros since 2017 and after playing in Houston in April, he announced he would not be breaking that streak in 2022. He did, though, say he would play in Paris in 2023.
The Missing Women from Roland-Garros 2022:
- Serena Williams: Last played at Wimbledon in 2021
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has not played since last year’s Wimbledon because of injury. Serena, who has won the title in Paris on three occasions, teased her fans recently with a training video and her fans are hoping she will back for Wimbledon.
- Sofia Kenin, 2020 runner-up recovering from ankle injury
The American reached the final in 2020 but has been off the Tour this year due to a right ankle issue. She’s on the road to recovery, but not ready yet.
- Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: 2021 Finalist out for the full season
The Russian reached her first Grand Slam final in Paris last year but has been struggling with the knee injury she carried all the way to the final. She announced on May 17 that she’ll miss the rest of 2022 to recover.
- Elina Svitolina, expecting her first child
The Ukrainian had already announced, in March, that she needed time off to refresh her body and mind, especially as a result of the ongoing invasion by Russia. But in better news, Svitolina announced that she and Gael Monfils are expecting their first child together, which is a far happier reason to put the racquets down for a while.
- Marketa Vondrousova, former runner-up recovering from wrist surgery
The Czech left hander, runner-up to Ash Barty in 2019, announced this week that she has undergone wrist surgery and will be off the Tour for several months.