Belgian tennis star Greet Minnen was forced to pull out of Wimbledon 2025 just minutes before the start of her opening singles match on Monday, citing a back injury sustained during practice over the weekend.
The unexpected withdrawal came as a major disappointment for the Belgian No. 2, who was due to face Australia’s Olivia Gadecki in the first round of the Grand Slam tournament.
In a statement released by the Belgian Tennis Federation, officials confirmed that Minnen had suffered the injury on Saturday and had been undergoing treatment in the hopes of recovering in time. However, the pain persisted, and medical staff ultimately ruled her unfit to compete in singles.
Minnen, currently ranked outside the top 100 in singles, was replaced in the main draw by Australian Solana Sierra, who enters the tournament as a lucky loser. The 23-year-old Sierra, ranked WTA 101, now faces compatriot Gadecki (WTA 103) in the first round.
This marks Sierra’s fifth Wimbledon appearance in the singles competition. Her best performances came in 2022 and 2024, where she reached the second round. The opportunity to step into the main draw provides her with another chance to improve on those past results.
As for Minnen, her withdrawal may not mark the end of her Wimbledon campaign entirely. She is expected to compete in the doubles draw, where she has been paired with Romania’s Monica Niculescu, currently ranked WTA Doubles No. 56.
The duo will face a challenging first-round encounter against Belarusian former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka (WTA Doubles No. 201) and rising American Ashlyn Krueger.
Despite the setback in singles, the 26-year-old Belgian is hopeful of being fit in time to contest the doubles match later this week. Minnen, who has had a mixed season due to recurring injuries, will be looking to regain form and fitness through the doubles campaign.
Wimbledon officials and fans alike expressed disappointment over the last-minute change but wished Minnen a speedy recovery. Her absence adds to a growing list of player withdrawals ahead of the tournament’s opening days, underscoring the physical demands of the sport as the tennis calendar progresses into the intense summer swing.
Minnen’s status for the rest of the tournament will depend on how her back responds to treatment, with team officials monitoring her condition closely over the coming days.
