The Australian Open will be without a player who reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam in 2025.
There had already been some big name withdrawals from the first Grand Slam of the year, with Jack Draper withdrawing from the Australian Open due to his ongoing arm injury.
Some players had not even entered the Melbourne major, with former finalist Danielle Collins explaining why she is missing the Australian Open in 2026.
As the injury concerns rack up ahead of the Australian Open, a Grand Slam semifinalist has now officially confirmed their withdrawal.
Lois Boisson withdraws from the Australian Open as injury concerns continue
Grand Slams are always the home of some incredible stories, and that was no different at the French Open last year.
After missing the 2024 tournament following tearing her ACL, Frenchwoman Lois Boisson made her main draw debut at Roland Garros after receiving a wildcard.
The 22-year-old was able to do this in style, with Boisson reaching the French Open semifinals after obtaining wins over Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva.
Showcasing that she was not just a one-hit wonder, Boisson would go on to win her first WTA title in Hamburg last year as well.
However, injuries have started to disrupt her progress, and forced Boisson to withdraw from the United Cup, which raised concern about her Australian Open participation.
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Those concerns have now become a reality, with Boisson officially releasing a statement on Instagram to confirm her withdrawal.
“Hello to all, Going to Australia and playing the Australian Open has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” began Boisson. “I’ve done my best to be ready in time but I also know that wanting to burn the steps, rushing can harm my body and health in the long run.
“This is why we have taken the decision not to participate in the Australian Open, to have a long-term vision to be ready and 100% to start this 2026 season. I know it’s the right decision to make even if it was very difficult.
“I’ve been living through a very difficult time for several months, a difficult time mentally and physically, these injuries that prevent me from being where I would like to be and doing what I love most… Now, accept, learn and rise up stronger and grow. Thank you to the people who support me. Lois.”
Boisson’s withdrawal means that Anastasia Zakharova has taken her place in the Australian Open main draw.
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Other late withdrawals from the Australian Open this year
Boisson is not the only player to have made a late withdrawal from the first major of 2026, with former finalist Qinwen Zheng also pulling out of the Australian Open.
Former top 10 player Veronika Kudermetova has also announced that she will be taking a break from tennis, leading to her withdrawal from the Australian Open.
Other withdrawals have enabled former British number one Katie Boulter to make her way into the Australian Open main draw, while Emil Ruusuvori is the latest player to pull out of the men’s singles tournament.
| Player who has withdrawn from the 2026 Australian Open | Player who replaced them |
| Jack Draper | Vit Kopriva |
| Arthur Fils | Carlos Taberner |
| Qinwen Zheng | Polina Kudermetova |
| Veronika Kudermetova | Veronika Erjavec |
| Yafan Wang | Katie Boulter |
| Lois Boisson | Anastasia Zakharova |
| Emil Ruusuvuori | Yannick Hanfmann |
There are still expected to be more withdrawals from the Australian Open, but now the qualifying draw is underway they will be replaced by lucky losers.
The main draw of the Australian Open is set to get underway on Sunday, January 18, with Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys as the defending champions.
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