LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Former Grand Slam finalist is now on seven game losing streak after retiring from her latest match

Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images
Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images
Follow us on Google Discover

Former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is still yet to win a match in 2026.

Pavlyuchenkova has been ranked as highly as world number 11, and reached the final of the French Open in 2021, where she was beaten by Barbora Krejcikova.

The 34-year-old began the season ranked inside the top 50, but Pavlyuchenkova suffered a huge drop down the rankings after losing in the first round of the Australian Open.

As she continued to seek her first win of the 2026 season, Pavlyuchenkova decided to drop down to WTA 125 level, but it resulted in the same outcome.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova expresses frustration during her match against Zhuoxuan at the 2026 Australian Open.
Photo by IZHAR KHAN / AFP via Getty Images

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has now lost seven matches in a row

Pavlyuchenkova did not play a match at either Indian Wells or the Miami Open, and instead decided to get her clay court season underway early at the WTA 125 event in Dubrovnik.

This is where she would play world number 463 Tena Lukas, and Pavlyuchenkova actually won the first set.

However, after losing the second set, Pavlyuchenkova took a medical timeout, where she received treatment on her leg and foot area.

Pavlyuchenkova returned to court after this, but in just the second game of the third set she retired from the match.

This signals a seventh consecutive defeat for Pavlyuchenkova, which dates back to the US Open last year, and five of these seven losses have been in straight sets.

Pavlyuchenkova’s losing streak nearly ended in just the third match at the Australian Open, but she failed to convert her match point against Zhuoxuan Bai.

TournamentAnastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s Result
US Open 2025 (2R)Victoria Azarenka beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3 6-3
Brisbane International 2026 (1R)Sorana Cirstea beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3 6-1
Australian Open 2026 (1R)Zhuoxuan Bai beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4 2-6 7-6(10)
Abu Dhabi Open 2026 (1R)McCartney Kessler beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3 6-3
Qatar Open 2026 (1R)Elise Mertens beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2 6-1
Dubai Tennis Championships 2026 (1R)Barbora Krejcikova beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6-4 6-4
Dubrovnik Open 2026 (1R)Tena Lukas beat Pavlyuchenkova, 6(5)-7 6-2 1-0 (Pavlyuchenkova retired)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova needs to have a positive clay court season

Pavlyuchenkova is now the world number 114, and is between Paula Badosa and Donna Vekic in the live WTA rankings.

This could get even worse for Pavlyuchenkova if she does not return to form in the coming months.

What has been the best WTA match of 2026?

Let us know in the comments!

Pavlyuchenkova reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, and therefore will be defending over 60% of her ranking points at the grass court major this year.

Being ranked outside the top 100 right now means that Pavlyuchenkova will not even get direct entry for Wimbledon this year unless her ranking improves during the clay court season.

Despite reaching her sole Grand Slam final at the French Open, Pavlyuchenkova only has 65 points to defend on clay this year and therefore should be sensing an opportunity.

Pavlyuchenkova is scheduled to return to court at another WTA 125 event, this time in Madrid, with the tournament getting underway on April 6.