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Jessica Pegula has pulled out of the Madrid Open 2024 women's singles event with an injury.
Pegula's graph has seen some ups and downs in the 2024 season thus far. She kicked off the year by leading Team USA's charge at the United Cup but failed to take her side to the knockouts.
A few days later, Pegula suffered a second-round exit from the Australian Open with an upset loss to France's Clara Burel. A neck injury then forced the American to sit out the entire Middle Eastern hardcourt swing.
She returned to the court after a couple of weeks and managed an impressive run to the semifinals of the San Diego Open but hit rock bottom at Indian Wells soon after as she lost to Anna Blinkova in her opener.
The Miami Open saw her play till the quarterfinals and she earned a semifinalist finish at the Charleston Open. Pegula then helped her national side earn a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Final with a 4-0 thumping over Belgium.
After the national duty, Pegula was supposed to travel to Stuttgart for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2024 but decided against it due to scheduling woes. Unfortunately, she has announced a second consecutive withdrawal as she recently took to Instagram and wrote:
"Hi guys not a great update but I got hurt this past week before Madrid and Unfortunately not ready to play. Thankful for some extra time at home and hope to be back ASAP."
Pegula's announcement comes just a few hours before the Madrid Open 2024 announces its women's singles draw on Sunday, April 21.
Jessica Pegula risks losing her World No. 5 ranking to Maria Sakkari as she decides against defending her quarterfinal points at Madrid Open
Jessica Pegula is set to lose 215 ranking points as she has decided against defending her quarterfinal run at the Madrid Open 2024.
In 2023, Pegula competed in Madrid as the third seed. She defeated the likes of Magdalena Frech, Marie Bouzkova, and Martina Trevisan before losing a three-setter to Veronika Kudermetova in the quarterfinals.
The 30-year-old currently sits in fifth place on the WTA's singles rankings with 4,870 points and will be left with 4,655 when the Madrid event ends on May 5.
Jessica Pegula is notably followed by Maria Sakkari in the sixth spot with 4,195 points. Sakkari will be defending her 390 semifinalist points at the Madrid Open and can displace Pegula if she claims the WTA 1000 trophy this year.
