Australian star Ajla Tomljanovic has been forced to pull out of Roland-Garros after failing to recover from knee surgery in time for next week’s tournament.
Tomljanovic, Australia’s top-ranked women’s player, has not played a match since last November, but had initially hoped to be ready for France’s grand slam after missing this year’s Australian Open in January.
According to The Age, tournament organisers have confirmed the 30-year-old’s withdrawal and she will be replaced in the women’s draw by a lucky loser who is beaten in this week’s qualifiers.
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Tomljanovic’s withdrawal leaves wildcard Kim Birrell, currently ranked No.111 in the world, as the only Aussie currently guaranteed a spot in the women’s main draw.
Birrell could still be joined by both Storm Sanders and Jaimee Fourlis, with the pair just one win away from the main draw.
Tomljanovic, currently ranked No.46 in the world, achieved a career-best fourth-round appearance at Roland-Garros back in 2014, but has not advanced past the second round since.
She enjoyed the best year of her professional career last year, making the quarter finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open before she was struck down by injuries.
Tomljanovic was unfortunate to not have a higher ranking due to the ATP and WTA stripping Wimbledon of its ranking points after the tournament’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from participating.
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