Former world number three announces that she won’t play until 2025 after failing to recover from injury

Follow us on Google Discover

2025 has been a tough year for many starts on the ATP and WTA circuit, with injuries seemingly increasing with each new season.

Iga Swiatek has complained about the tennis schedule regularly, as has Carlos Alcaraz, but nothing ever seems to be done.

These athletes are instead expected to just play day after day, week after week, travelling all over the world with little to no break.

Eventually, something truly serious will happen, but for now, these mounting injuries are the only tangible outcome of note.

Maria Sakkari has proven to be their latest victim.

Maria Sakkari injured until 2025

In fact, the former world number three has now revealed that, due to her inability to recover from a shoulder injury, she will now play no more part in the 2025 season.

This has been a really tough year for the 29-year-old anyway, but this latest ailment has only added to the unrest felt in her camp.

Sakkari also split with her long-time coach Tom Hill back in February, only to then cut short her subsequent partnership with David Witt in June.

Now, taking to Instagram, she has written: ‘For the last few weeks, my main focus has been on recovering from my shoulder injury.

‘Unfortunately, due to this, I will have to end my season earlier than planned. I will be back stronger and pain-free.

‘Thank you for all the support. It’s been a challenging year, but it has taught me a lot as well. See you soon in Australia.’

A tough year for Maria Sakkari

This latest update caps off a really tough year for Sakkari, which has actually seen her fall to 17th in the world rankings.

Naturally, missing a handful of tournaments through injury has not helped, but even when fit her form has faltered.

A second-round exit in the Australian Open marked a poor start, but things did start to look up when she soared into the Indian Wells final, losing to Iga Swiatek.

Then reaching the quarter-finals in Miami, it felt like the Greek tennis star was threatening to recapture some consistency at last.

However, her admirable showing throughout the clay court season only resulted in a miserable first-round exit at Roland Garros.

Emma Raducanu would then knock her out of Wimbledon in just the third round, before she was forced to retire in the first round of the US Open as well.

Hopefully, by ending this torrid season early, it can give her enough time to recover and return ready to right these wrongs in 2025.