Reigning French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova has withdrawn from Indian Wells in 2022 because of an elbow injury according to the Associated Press. Krejcikova, was initially seeded first when world number one and reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty of Australia also decided not to participate in California as she withdrew last week.
Krejcikova had advanced to the fourth round of the 2021 Indian Wells tournament. Seeded third behind Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic and 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, Krejcikova beat Kazakhstani qualifier Zarina Diyas 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in the second round and 2019 French Open semifinalist Amanda Anisimova of the United States 6-1, 6-3 in the third round, before losing to the reigning Indian Wells champion Paula Badosa of Spain, 6-1, 7-5. Krejcikova only had to play two matches leading up to the fourth round of Indian Wells because all of the seeded players receive a first round bye.
Krejcikova initially reported pain two weeks ago while playing in Qatar. At the 2022 Qatar Open in Doha, Krejcikova reached the third round before losing to 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, 6-3, 6-2.
It should not come as much surprise that Krejcikova got hurt. That is because she plays so much in singles and doubles. Krejcikova and her doubles partner, Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, are ranked first in the world. They are the reigning Australian Open champions and French Open champions.
Krejcikova and Barty are among a number of elite players not in Indian Wells this week. They include 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins of the United States (undisclosed injury from Dubai), 20-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia (unvaccinated), Dominic Theim of Austria (wrist injury), Roger Federer of Switzerland (knee), and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia (knee).
