Linda Noskova pulls out of Wuhan Open with left calf injury
Synopsis
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova has become the latest big name to skip the Wuhan Open, pulling out with a left calf injury just days after sealing her first-ever WTA Finals berth. The withdrawal reshuffles the draw and raises questions about her fitness ahead of the Indian Wells season finale in November.
Key Takeaways
Linda Noskova , world No.
6 and Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open with a left calf injury .
9 seed) moves to Line 48 and receives a bye into the second round; Anna Kalinskaya steps into Line 9 and faces Zhang Shuai in Round 1.
Noskova joins Elena Rybakina , Coco Gauff , Naomi Osaka , and Amanda Anisimova on the growing Wuhan absentee list.
Oleksandra Oliynykova also withdrew with a right ankle injury; qualifier Aoi Ito replaced her.
Noskova has already qualified for the WTA Finals at Indian Wells , scheduled 8–15 November , alongside Mirra Andreeva .
The Wuhan Open main draw begins Monday , with the final on 18 October .
Wimbledon champion and world No. 6 Linda Noskova has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open due to a left calf injury, tournament organisers confirmed. The Czech player's exit triggers a reshuffle in the draw ahead of the main event, which begins on Monday with the final scheduled for 18 October.
Draw Reshuffle After Noskova's Exit
Because Noskova withdrew before the release of the first order of play, No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic — the next available seeded player entitled to a bye — moves into Line 48 of the draw and advances directly to the second round. Anna Kalinskaya, the next available seeded player, then steps into Bencic's former Line 9 slot and will face Zhang Shuai in the opening round. Kalinskaya's original position in the draw will be filled by a lucky loser ahead of play, according to the WTA.
A Growing Absentee List at Wuhan
Noskova is among several high-profile names missing from this year's Wuhan draw. She joins World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Amanda Anisimova, among others, on the absentee list. Separately, Oleksandra Oliynykova also withdrew on Sunday with a right ankle injury and was replaced by qualifier Aoi Ito. The wave of withdrawals has reshaped the competitive picture at what is traditionally one of the season's marquee hard-court events.
WTA Finals Berth Already Secured
Noskova's Wuhan exit comes just days after she and Mirra Andreeva were confirmed as qualifiers for the WTA Finals, to be held at Indian Wells from 8–15 November. The WTA announced on Friday that both players had secured their places on tennis' ultimate end-of-season stage. They join Rybakina and two-time WTA Finals runner-up Aryna Sabalenka in the field.
Andreeva, 19, and 21-year-old Noskova will make their WTA Finals singles debuts. Notably, Andreeva had previously qualified in doubles alongside Diana Shnaider in 2025.
Noskova's Breakout Season
The Wuhan withdrawal does little to diminish what has been a remarkable campaign for Noskova. In addition to her maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, she claimed the grass-court WTA 500 Berlin Open, reached the semifinals at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells, and posted her best-ever US Open result with a quarterfinal run. The calf injury will now be closely monitored with the WTA Finals less than a month away.
Point of View
But a calf strain heading into hard courts can linger. The broader pattern at Wuhan — Rybakina, Gauff, Osaka, Anisimova all absent — also points to a growing fixture-congestion problem on the WTA calendar that no single tournament can solve alone. For the Wuhan Open, the commercial and competitive stakes of a depleted draw deserve scrutiny from tour governance.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Linda Noskova withdraw from the Wuhan Open?
Linda Noskova withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a left calf injury. She pulled out before the release of the first order of play, which triggered an automatic draw reshuffle.
How does Noskova's withdrawal affect the Wuhan Open draw?
Belinda Bencic, the next available seeded player entitled to a bye, moves into Line 48 and advances directly to the second round. Anna Kalinskaya steps into Line 9 and will face Zhang Shuai in the first round, while Kalinskaya's original spot will be filled by a lucky loser.
Has Noskova qualified for the WTA Finals despite withdrawing from Wuhan?
Yes. Noskova had already secured her place at the WTA Finals at Indian Wells (8–15 November) before the Wuhan withdrawal. She qualified alongside Mirra Andreeva and joins Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka in the field.
Who else has pulled out of the 2026 Wuhan Open?
Several top players are missing from Wuhan, including World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, and Oleksandra Oliynykova, the last of whom withdrew with a right ankle injury and was replaced by qualifier Aoi Ito.
What has been Noskova's season record ahead of the WTA Finals?
Noskova has had a standout season: she won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, claimed the WTA 500 Berlin Open on grass, reached the semifinals at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells, and made the quarterfinals at the US Open — her best-ever result at that event.
