Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys among top stars missing at Australian Open 2021

Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys among top stars missing at Australian Open 2021

Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys

Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys

The Australian Open 2021 women’s draw includes some of the biggest names in tennis. The event also marks the return of US Open 2019 champion, Bianca Andreescu who returns to action for the first time after the WTA Finals event in 2019. Ashleigh Barty, world number one also returns to action at her home slam.

Kiki Bertens, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys are among the few top players who will miss the Australian Open 2021 due to either injury or testing positive for covid-19. Amanda Anisimova was due to play the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Open, but the American tested positive for the virus just before the tournament began. This meant that she would miss the flight to Australia which has strict quarantine protocols.

Kiki Bertens revealed on her Twitter post that she is currently undergoing her rehabilitation program for her injury. The Dutch stated that although she would have loved to compete at the Australian Open, yet it was very risky for her, given the state of her injury.

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Dayana Yastremska’s participation in major doubt

Dayana Yastremska

Dayana Yastremska was provisionally suspended from the WTA Tour after she tested positive to mesterolone metabolite, an anabolic agent, last November. While the Ukrainian has a right to compete under a pending appeal or before an official hearing, there has been no official confirmation regarding the same by Tennis Australia.

However, the Ukrainian was found on a chartered flight to Australia alongside the Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova who posted a photograph of the pair in one of the flights arranged by Tennis Australia. Yastremska had protested her innocence last week, citing contaminated samples as a reason for her testing positive.

Among other players, Madison Keys also tested positive for covid-19 and is set to miss the year’s first Grandslam event which commences from February 8.

Also Read: Qualifier Francesca Jones hopes to face Serena Williams at the Australian Open 2021