Follow us on Google Discover It’s getting to the stage of the year where certain players are prioritising the following season on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Injuries are becoming a common theme, with Karolina Pliskova the latest to announce that she’s ended her 2025 campaign.
Daria Kastakina is another to reach ‘breaking point’ and more and more players are choosing to take time for themselves as the year draws to a conclusion.
On the ATP Tour, Hubert Hurkacz has called time on 2025 and others will cherry pick what tournaments they play in.
The big decisions continue to come and now a one-time Wimbledon champion has confirmed their decision to end their season early.
Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty ImagesMarketa Vondrousova ends 2025 early after retiring injured from Japan Open
Vondrousova won Wimbledon in 2023 but since then it’s been a case of fitness issues robbing her of consistency.
The Czech player did reach the quarterfinal at the US Open earlier this year but she’s only managed to play in four of the WTA 1000 events across 2025.
Yesterday, Vondrousova retired from her match with Karolina Muchova having lost the first set 6-2 and then trailing 1-0 in the second.
Now, she’s announced that her season is over in an emotional post on Instagram.
Vondrousova said: “Honestly. Probably the hardest one of my life. Not just because of the pain, but because keeping your head up when things don’t go your way is a whole different sport.
“I’ve learned that being healthy — like really healthy — is the most important thing. Body, mind, everything.
“So yeah, ending the season in pain again wasn’t the plan, but that’s life.
“I’m so thankful for the people around me who kept me grounded, who supported me on the worst days and made me smile on the good ones. you know who you are.”
WTA must take warning from 2025 situation
Far too many players have called time early on their 2025 campaigns on the WTA Tour and the alarm bells must be ringing.
There is no surprise that players are dropping out left, right and centre given the rigorous demands of the tour.
At 26, Vondrousova has a number of years left at the top level but the her struggles have been highlighted this year given that she’s down at number 35 in the world rankings.
It’s time that something was done on the WTA Tour with regards to the number of mandatory tournaments that the player’s are needed to play in.
Vondrousova has proven in the past she’s got what it takes to win the big titles and hopefully finishing 2025 early can help her return at her very best next year.