Jasmine Paolini confirmed on Monday her withdrawal from the DC Open in Washington and the Canadian Open in Toronto. The 30-year-old Italian is struggling with a foot injury that has disrupted her season for months, requiring extended rest before any return to competition.
"I have decided to withdraw from Washington and Toronto to give my foot more rest time. I am very sorry not to be there, but I wish everyone a good tournament," she wrote on social media. Simple words that mask growing frustration for Italy's top-ranked female player.
This is the third time Paolini has pulled out of the Washington event due to physical issues. The 2026 season for the former Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist has become an obstacle course: sporadic appearances, precautionary withdrawals and fitness levels that refuse to return to where they need to be.
Last year after Wimbledon, she tried to push through by competing in Canada, but a first-round loss to Aoi Ito underlined the cost of playing at anything less than full capacity. This time, she is choosing caution. The question now is when she returns, and in what shape.
Paolini's withdrawal adds to a growing list of absences for the North American hard court swing. The DC Open, starting July 27, loses one of its most anticipated headliners. The Canadian Open in Toronto will also have to do without the Italian, depriving the draw of a player capable of troubling anyone when fully fit.
Her return timeline remains unclear. Paolini did not mention Cincinnati or the US Open, though her name appears on the official entry list released on Tuesday by the USTA. Everything will depend on the foot's progress over the coming weeks. For a player who reached two Grand Slam finals in 2024, time is of the essence.
