Karolína Muchová Withdraws from 2023 WTA Finals Due to Injury
Maria Sakkari of Greece will succeed Muchová in the year-end championship.
Karolína Muchová of the Czech Republic has today withdrawn from the 2023 WTA Finals in Cancún, Mexico. She was the eighth qualifier for the year-end championship. However, she has decided not to compete due to a wrist injury.
Muchová made the announcement on Instagram earlier today: ”I am heartbroken to announce that I will miss my first WTA Finals in Cancun. Together with the team and doctors we tried everything till the last moments to resolve my wrist injury. Unfortunately, the time needed for the recovery is longer than we would've hoped for and therefore I had to make this unpleasant decision. I greatly appreciate the support of all the fans. I will do my best to be back in 2024 and get another chance to be part of the WTA Finals.”
While she didn’t win any titles during the 2023 season, Muchová advanced to the WTA Finals this year following several fantastic runs. She was a finalist at the French Open (Grand Slam) in June and the Cincinnati Open (WTA 1000) in August. She was also a semifinalist at the U.S. Open (Grand Slam) in September. Muchová was set to make her debut at the WTA Finals this year.
The first alternate player - Maria Sakkari of Greece - will succeed Muchová at the 2023 WTA Finals. She won one title this year - the Guadalajara Open (WTA 1000) in September. She was also a finalist at the Washington Open (WTA 500) in July as well as a semifinalist at the Indian Wells Open (WTA 1000) in March and the Madrid Open (WTA 1000) in May. Sakkari previously competed in the 2021 and 2022 WTA Finals.
In addition to Sakkari, the 2023 WTA Finals will be contested by Coco Gauff of the United States, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, Jessica Pegula of the United States, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, Iga Świątek of Poland, and Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic.
Should any additional competitors withdraw from the WTA Finals, the two current alternates are Barbora Krejčíková of the Czech Republic and Madison Keys of the United States. However, both of them are currently competing this week in the 2023 WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China.