Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula Withdraw from Queen’s Club Championships Ahead of Wimbledon 2025
Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula, two of women’s tennis’ biggest stars, sent shockwaves through the tennis world by withdrawing from the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, a WTA 500 grass-court event from June 9-15, 2025, considered a key Wimbledon warm-up. The decision, announced by tournament organizers on June 5, 2025, via @QueensTennis on X, cited personal reasons for both players, with hopes for their return in 2026.[](https://www.si.com/onsi/serve/news/naomi-osaka-jessica-pegula-pull-out-of-queens-club-championships)[](https://x.com/SuperSportBlitz/status/1930634057085235264)
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, received a wildcard but pulled out after a first-round French Open loss to Paula Badosa (7-5, 4-6, 6-3), expressing frustration with her form, per Flashscore.com. She also cited painful blisters impacting her grip, as noted in a Reddit thread, potentially influencing her decision to skip the event. Pegula, world No. 3 and 2024 US Open finalist, withdrew after a shocking fourth-round French Open defeat to wildcard Lois Boisson (3-6, 6-4, 6-4), compounded by vitriolic online abuse she shared on Instagram, per Sporting News.[](https://www.flashscore.com/news/tennis-wta-singles-naomi-osaka-and-jessica-pegula-withdraw-from-new-queen-s-club-women-s-tournament/lfxUqNo3/)[](https://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/naomi_osaka_and_jessica_pegula_out_queens_club_return_hit_with_major_withdrawals/s1_17460_42288232)
The withdrawals, a blow to Queen’s Club’s first women’s event in 52 years, shift focus to other grass-court tournaments like Berlin, where Osaka is confirmed to compete, per @TennisUpToDate2 on X. Pegula’s plans remain unclear, but her 31-10 2025 record suggests she’ll target events like Eastbourne to prepare for Wimbledon, starting June 30. The move has sparked debate, with fans on X like @z_kortu expressing disappointment, while @MSports_all noted the setback for organizers. Despite their absences, top players like Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova, and Emma Navarro will compete at Queen’s, per France24.com.[
