The road to Flushing Meadows is getting bumpier by the week. More than five weeks before the 2026 US Open main draw begins on August 30 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, four WTA players have already been ruled out, and the list could grow further.
Canadian prospect Victoria Mboko suffered medial collateral ligament damage to her left knee during a fall at the Queen's Club Championship in June. After missing Wimbledon, hopes of a US Open return faded when her name was absent from the official entry list. Fellow withdrawal Hailey Baptiste faces an even longer road back, having torn her ACL and damaged her meniscus during the French Open second round. The 24-year-old American had been enjoying a breakthrough season, reaching the Madrid Open semi-finals and climbing to a career-high ranking of 25, before that devastating moment ended her year entirely.
Varvara Gracheva of France is also out after tearing her ACL back in March, while Australian Ajla Tomljanovic became the most recent confirmed withdrawal. Despite seemingly recovering from knee trouble during the clay season and playing a full grass-court schedule, including a semi-final run at the Libema Open, Tomljanovic exited at the first round of Wimbledon and has since pulled out. Germany's Ella Seidel earns a direct entry as a result.
British fans also received unwelcome news, as Sonay Kartal withdrew from the alternate list, ruling her out of qualifying entirely.
With Emma Raducanu's fitness situation still uncertain heading into the North American hard-court swing, the withdrawal list may not be finished growing. TennisDraw users should factor these absences carefully into their US Open bracket picks.
