BNP Paribas Open: World No. 1 Ash Barty, American Danielle Collins withdraw from Indian Wells

Andrew L. John, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read
Ash Barty, shown here during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in July, will not play at the BNP Paribas Open this year.
Ash Barty, shown here during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in July, will not play at the BNP Paribas Open this year.
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World No. 1 Ash Barty and 11th-ranked Danielle Collins, the top-ranked American, have withdrawn from next week's BNP Paribas Open due to injuries.

Their loss will be significant at Indian Wells, where many of the top players did not play last October and others will be missing this month. The tournament runs from March 7-20 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“Unfortunately, my body has not recovered the way I’d hoped after the Australian Open and I have not been able to adequately prepare for Indian Wells and Miami,” said Barty, 25, in a statement. “I don’t believe I am at the level necessary to win these events and as a result I have decided to withdraw from both tournaments. I love these events and am sad not to be there competing but getting my body right must be my focus.”

Collins last played a full match against Barty, ironically, in the Australian Open final in January. She said she played through pain after falling to the court with severe cramping in her abdomen and pelvis. A week later, she withdrew from the tournament in Adelaide with back pain.

More: 2022 BNP Paribas Open tennis at Indian Wells: Tickets, parking, schedule and more

American Danielle Collins returns a shot to Ons Jabeur of Tunisia on Stadium One at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on October 11, 2021.
American Danielle Collins returns a shot to Ons Jabeur of Tunisia on Stadium One at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., on October 11, 2021.

Collins, 28, played last month in Dubai but retired midway through her first match with qualifier Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic. It’s unclear what injury Collins suffered in Dubai.

Collins lost her second match, versus Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur, at Indian Wells in October. Collins was ranked 25th at the time but her run in Australia led her to a career-high ranking.

Barty did not play at Indian Wells in October and has not played at the event since 2019. She was ranked 12th at the time and moved into the spot by the end of the year.

With the withdrawals, Oceane Dodin and Anna Bondar move into the main draw.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Ash Barty, Danielle Collins withdraw from Indian Wells