Sports
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty Withdraws From BNP Paribas Open
Barty, who won the Australian Open in her home country in January, said her body has not recovered as she had hoped from the event.
INDIAN WELLS, CA — Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open, with the world's No. 1-ranked women's tennis player saying her body "has not recovered the way I had hoped after the Australian Open," leaving her unable to prepare for the tournament, organizers announced Thursday.
The withdrawal of Danielle Collins, the top-ranked American, was also announced Thursday because of what was described as a "continuing injury." Collins has not played since dizziness forced her to retire from her first- round match in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Feb. 15.
Collins is 11th in the Women's Tennis Association singles rankings. She lost to Barty, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the Australian Open final Jan. 29.
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Women's main draw play in the BNP Paribas Open is set to begin Wednesday.
Barty also announced her withdrawal from the Miami Open, which begins March 22. The Australian won the tournament the two most recent times it was played, 2019 and 2021.
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"I don't believe I am at the level necessary to win these events and as a result I have decided to withdraw from both tournaments," Barty said in a statement. "I love these events and am sad not to be there competing, but getting my body right must be my focus."
Barty said she hopes to return to play April 15, when Australia faces Slovakia in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier.
