Overview of Withdrawals
The upcoming 2025 Queen’s Club Championships has faced a significant setback as three prominent players—Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Musetti, and Tommy Paul—have all announced their decision to withdraw from the tournament. This wave of withdrawals highlights ongoing concerns among tennis athletes regarding the increasingly grueling nature of the ATP calendar, which many players have criticized in recent discussions.
Attempts have been made to advocate for a shorter schedule, but the decline in top talent appearing at events may ultimately serve as a catalyst for change.
Impact of Clay-Court Season
The season’s clay-court matches have clearly taken a toll on many competitors, leaving several injured or fatigued, causing them to pull out of grass-court events. Even Carlos Alcaraz‘s participation at Queen’s Club remains uncertain as the tournament approaches. Scheduled from June 16 to June 22, the event was met with disappointment merely four days prior to its beginning with the news that previous champions and finalists would not be competing.
Player Withdrawals and Rankings
Matteo Berrettini, a two-time champion at Queen’s Club, secured victories in 2021 and 2022, but his 2025 campaign will not materialize. Fortunately, this will have minimal impact on his ranking. In stark contrast, defending champion Tommy Paul faces the potential for substantial change in his rankings due to this withdrawal. After winning the tournament last year, Paul’s 500 points have positioned him in the ATP Top 10. His absence from the competition suggests he may drop from this elite bracket.
Similar circumstances surround Lorenzo Musetti, who was last seen in action during the semi-finals of the recent Roland Garros before retiring to Alcaraz. His withdrawal is yet another blow to the tournament’s star power, alongside earlier withdrawals of Sebastian Korda and Nick Kyrgios.
Alternates and Remaining Field
Despite these developments, there is a silver lining for Alexander Bublik, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, and Jenson Brooksby, who will step in as alternates for Berrettini, Paul, and Musetti, respectively. Tournament organizers are hopeful for no further withdrawals, especially given the remaining competitive field spearheaded by world number one Carlos Alcaraz, along with players like Jack Draper, Taylor Fritz, and Holger Rune. Other crowd favorites such as Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are also set to make their appearances in London.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Berrettini, Musetti, and Paul will be absent from the lead-up tournaments before Wimbledon, creating a scramble for points and opportunities for other players in the lead-up to one of tennis’s most prestigious events.
