The Australian Open will be missing some serious star power in 2026, with World No.10 Jack Draper becoming the latest high-profile withdrawal on Saturday. It comes after it was revealed that former grand slam champion Bianca Andreescu has opted not to enter qualifying for the Melbourne Park grand slam, instead deciding to play a Challenger event.
Andreescu shocked the tennis world in 2019 when she beat Serena Williams in the final to win the US Open. The 25-year-old from Canada reached a career-high of World No.4 that year, but her career has been plagued by injuries.
Bianca Andreescu (second from left) has opted not to play the Australian Open. (Image: Getty)
Currently down at World No.159, Andreescu missed out on gaining automatic entry into the Australian Open. She could have opted to enter the qualifying tournament in an attempt to make the main draw, but has instead decided to play a ‘W35 tournament’ in Florida at the lower ITF level.
Bianca Andreescu (R) beat Serena Williams (L) in the US Open final in 2019 for her maiden grand slam. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Andreescu struggled for form in 2025, after missing the first five months of the season. She lost in qualifying at the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as at the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan.
“It is certainly a blow to the ego, but I have to put that to one side,” she said in October. “It was many years ago that I won the US Open, and so much has happened since then.
“I still have big ambitions. I know what I can accomplish. So finding that balance of being patient and being that go-getter that I am to try and get back to the top is a bit tricky.”
Instead of trying to qualify for the Australian Open, she’s dropped down to the lower level to try and get some wins and confidence under her belt. Fans have expressed their sadness on social media that Andreescu won’t be playing in Melbourne, but supported her decision.
Danielle Collins and Ons Jabeur out of Australian Open
Fellow grand slam champ Victoria Azarenka was also noticeably absent from the entry list for qualifying. The World No.132 hasn’t revealed why, but there’s every chance the former champion could be offered a wildcard into the main draw. The Belarusian won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.
Other high-profile absentees are Ons Jabeur, who has stepped away while she’s pregnant. And 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins is also missing due to a back issue that she’s recovering from.
Jack Draper and Holger Rune missing grand slam
On the men’s side, World No.15 Holger Rune is sidelined after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the semi-finals of the Stockholm Open in October. And British star Draper withdrew on Saturday due to an arm injury he suffered at the US Open.
“It’s a really, really tough decision, obviously (with) Australia being a grand slam, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in our sport,” said the 24-year-old. “However, I’ve had this injury for a long time, I’m at the very, very end stages of the process and to step back on court into best-of-five-set tennis so soon just doesn’t seem like a smart decision right now for me and my tennis.”