The upcoming grass-court season has dealt a blow to Italian tennis. World No. 15 Lorenzo Musetti officially announced his withdrawal from Wimbledon 2026 on Wednesday, as he continues to battle a persistent left thigh injury. The 24-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at the All England Club in 2024, has been sidelined since mid-May 2026 after suffering a Grade II tear of the right rectus femoris muscle during a fourth-round loss to Casper Ruud at the Italian Open in Rome.
The forced absence marks a devastating double-blow for the former world number five, who was also forced to pull out of the French Open due to the exact same physical issue. However, Musetti’s unfortunate exit has a silver lining for Italian tennis, directly propelling compatriot and 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini into the main draw, in an Italian contingent led by the world no.1 Jannik Sinner.Â
Lorenzo Musetti Injury Update And Wimbledon Withdrawal
Musetti took to social media to share a heartfelt update with his fans, stating his body is simply not ready for the grueling physical demands of Grand Slam grass-court tennis.
“I want to update you on my recovery from the injury I sustained in Rome: rehabilitation is going very well and the medical results are encouraging,” Musetti wrote on Instagram.
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“Unfortunately, as I have not yet been able to begin a full athletic training program, and after careful evaluation, we have come to the difficult conclusion that I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year. It is not an easy decision, but it is the right one. My priority is to return to the court at 100%.”
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Musetti’s withdrawal solves a major administrative headache for fellow countryman Matteo Berrettini. Ranked No. 49 in the world, Berrettini found himself placed outside the top 100 when Wimbledon’s initial entry list was locked in, leaving him as the second alternate and facing the looming prospect of a tricky qualifying tournament.
Because of Musetti’s open slot, the dangerous grass-court specialist—who is fresh off a quarter-final run at Roland Garros—gains direct entry into the main draw.Â
Who Are the Other Major Names Missing Wimbledon This Year?
Musetti is unfortunately not the only elite superstar forced to watch the third Grand Slam of the year from the sidelines. The 2026 edition has already been hit by a wave of high-profile injury dropouts, severely altering the men’s and women’s fields.
On the men’s side, two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the tournament as he continues to undergo intensive recovery for a right wrist issue.
On the women’s side, young Canadian talent Victoria Mboko has also pulled out due to a severe knee injury sustained earlier this year.
With several other marquee stars like Holger Rune, Marta Kostyuk, and Jack Draper dealing with ongoing physical doubts, tournament officials are bracing for further changes to the final entry lists before play officially kicks off on June 29.
