The Italian Open is now well underway, with players across both the ATP and WTA tours in action in Rome.
Jannik Sinner has returned to tennis from a three-month ban at the Italian Open, with his fellow world number one Aryna Sabalenka also taking part.
The men’s players are in ATP Masters 1000 action, with the women’s players vying for WTA 1000 glory in the Italian capital.
It continues the clay court season, with the tournament building towards the French Open, which gets underway in Paris later this month.
But the Rome event has suffered a handful of blows, with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic skipping the Italian Open.
Petra Kvitova and Paula Badosa withdraw from the Italian Open
And shortly before her opening match, Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Italian Open due to injury.
The 2023 Wimbledon champion has now been followed by two former world number two players in Petra Kvitova and Paula Badosa.
Kvitova has been forced to pull out of her meeting with Ons Jabeur due to a leg injury, having just beaten Irina-Camelia Begu in round one.
Badosa meanwhile was not able to play her second round match against Naomi Osaka due to her ongoing back issues.
Ons Jabeur sends message to Petra Kvitova after Italian Open withdrawal
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka certainly didn’t let Badosa’s withdrawal distract her, with the former world number one instead defeating Viktorija Golubic.
And Jabeur, who received a bye into round two, has taken to social media to wish Kvitova well after her unfortunate injury, writing on X: “Wishing Petra a speedy recovery.”
Two-time Grand Slam winner Kvitova has only just returned to tennis after a maternity break, but a lower right leg injury has halted her progress in Rome.
She is currently ranked 830th in the world, with Badosa currently sitting 10th despite her ongoing back problems.
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