Jun 6, 2021; Paris, France; Paula Badosa (ESP) reacts during her match against Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) on day eight of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros.

tennis

2025 Italian Open Hit With Withdrawal Bombshells as Two Former World No. 2s Pull Out

Bad news at the Foro Italico.

Jun 6, 2021; Paris, France; Paula Badosa (ESP) reacts during her match against Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) on day eight of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros.

The 2025 Italian Open in Rome will be without two major stars, as disappointing announcements poured in on Thursday. The two players in concern are Paula Badosa and Petra Kvitova – both players have been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world. Unfortunately, neither of them will take further part in this year’s 1000-event.

Paula Badosa has been nursing a plethora of injuries for years now. However, it has been a specific back injury that has been causing her issues for a long time now. The Spaniard’s last tournament where she officially completed the match and shook hands with her opponent was in February at the Dubai Open. Since then, this week’s No. 9 seed retired in Merida, withdrew from Indian Wells, handed out a walkover in Miami and withdrew at home in Madrid.

Paula Badosa and Petra Kvitova have withdrawn due to injury.

Badosa will be replaced by Lucky Loser Viktorija Golubic, while Ons Jabeur advances via walkover.

Wishing Paula and Petra a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹#IBI25
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 8, 2025

On the other hand, Petra Kvitova is making a comeback after giving birth. She picked up her first tour-level win as a mother in Round-1 over Irina-Camelia Begu. Kvitova is a two-time Wimbledon champion, and also reached the final of the Australian Open in 2019. Hoping to go deep in this year’s competition ahead of Roland Garros, the Czech superstar is set to join Paula Badosa on the sidelines.

Paula Badosa and Petra Kvitova Pull Out of Italian Open

Having received a bye in Round-1, Paula Badosa was drawn to face former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the Round of 64. The Japanese star eased past hometown hero Sara Errani in her first round match-up. Owing to her back issues however, the 2025 Australian Open semifinalist will not be able to compete on Thursday. Badosa admitted to feeling “not 100%” before the Madrid Open; clearly not much has changed. This means that Osaka will face lucky loser Viktorija Golubic instead.

Fans were set to be treated to a blockbuster encounter between two friends on Frantic Friday, when Petra Kvitova and Ons Jabeur locked horns. After the latest update, the southpaw will be unable to compete, ensuring an automatic Round-3 entry for her Tunisian counterpart. Kvitova is dealing with a right lower leg injury. Jabeur will now face either No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini or Lulu Sun in the Round of 32.

Italian Open

Paula Badosa

Petra Kvitova

Rome Masters

Tennis

WTA

WTA 1000

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.