
Ons Jabeur, the 2022 U.S. Open finalist and former world No 2, has withdrawn from this year’s tournament with a shoulder injury.
Jabeur, the No 17 seed, confirmed the decision after the draw was made on Thursday lunchtime, and so her spot will be taken by the highest-ranked unseeded player, Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Mertens will become the No 33 seed, and her former position in the draw will be taken by a qualifier or lucky loser.
Those are the implications for the tournament. For Jabeur, this is another significant blow in what has been, in her words, a “very tough” year.
Jabeur,...