Jessica Pegula withdraws from the Queen’s Club tournament on a day of surprises.

Jessica Pegula’s debut in the revamped Queen’s Club Championships has been postponed, a decision that stirs the start of the grass season. The world number five, who has had an impressive start to 2026, opted to delay the beginning of her grass preparation by withdrawing from the prestigious London tournament. This comes as a shock to fans and the circuit at a time when her calendar promised to continue impressing.

Pegula, who has already amassed top results this season—including a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and winning her fourth WTA 1000 title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships—saw her momentum interrupted by unexpected defeats on clay, such as her early exit in Madrid against Marta Kostyuk and a heavy loss to Iga Swiatek in Rome. The setback in the first round of Roland Garros, where she had not suffered such an early elimination since 2020, prompted her to reassess her strategy for the grass season. With Roland Garros extending, Pegula decided she would make her grass debut in Berlin instead of London, focusing on defending her title at the Bad Homburg Open and seeking redemption at Wimbledon, where she faced a surprising first-round exit in 2025.

Her withdrawal from Queen’s Club is part of a larger phenomenon, with several withdrawals shaking up the WTA 500 tournament. Hailey Baptiste, a victim of a serious injury at Roland Garros, saw her season come to an abrupt end, preventing her from competing in London. The world number 12, Linda Noskova, also chose to delay the start of her grass campaign. At the same time, Cristina Bucsa, Zheng Qinwen, and Karolina Pliskova had initially confirmed their participation, but Bucsa withdrew, opening the door for Alexandra Eala in a scenario marked by a succession of chaotic entries and exits.

Among the confirmations, the late inclusion of world number two Elena Rybakina stands out, as well as the presence of other top 10 stars such as Amanda Anisimova and Victoria Mboko. Figures like Belinda Bencic, Iva Jovic, and Leylah Fernandez are also in attendance, promising a competitive tournament despite some absences. Players who had tough campaigns at Roland Garros, such as Marta Kostyuk, Diana Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya, and Sorana Cirstea, are still considering their participation, at a time when physical and mental exhaustion weighs on decisions for the grass season.

The Queen’s Club Championships is thus weakened by these withdrawals, but it remains a stage for great emotions and surprises as players transition from clay to grass. The absence of Pegula, in particular, leaves a noticeable void, but it also opens the door for other contenders to shine before the start of the British Grand Slam. What is at stake is more than just ranking points: it is the opportunity to assert supremacy on the circuit’s most demanding surface. All eyes will be on London to see who takes advantage of this reconfiguration of the field to claim the prestigious trophy.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.

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