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Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, and Grigor Dimitrov, among other tennis stars, suffered heartbreaking injuries during the 2025 season. Many had to retire mid-match in a strong position because they could not continue.
The 2025 tennis season has drawn to a close with plenty of talking points. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner once again shared the Grand Slam titles on the men’s side, while the women’s circuit saw a different champion at each Major.
Alcaraz finished the year as world No. 1, while Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed a dominant run at the top of the WTA rankings. Yet, behind the success stories, the demanding calendar took its toll on many players.
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Fatigue and physical strain led to a wave of injuries across the tour, forcing some stars to withdraw from major tournaments and others to retire during key matches. Here’s a look at five players who endured heartbreaking injury setbacks in 2025.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka began 2025 on a promising note, building on her 2024 comeback and making her first WTA final in years at the ASB Classic in Auckland. She dominated the first set 6-4 against fifth seed Clara Tauson. However, just one set away from the title, she was forced to retire due to an abdominal injury.
She sat on her bench in tears while waiting for a trainer before officially retiring mid-match. Despite the setback, she pushed forward and, later in the season, reached the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Canada.
Yet the abdominal issue, and prior back trouble limited her ability to maintain consistency. Osaka finished 2025 ranked No. 16. Many fans now hope that, with proper recovery and training, Osaka can return to form and chase a tour-level title again in 2026.
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic began 2025 with a clear aim to chase a 25th Grand Slam title. He looked sharp through the early rounds and even defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. But a left-thigh muscle tear, sustained during the event, carried into his semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev.
Despite a tightly contested first set, Djokovic retired mid-match, ending his AO run in painful fashion. That injury lingered.
Though the Serb still reached the semifinals at every Grand Slam this year, he couldn’t convert any into titles. He made up for some of the disappointment by winning two ATP 250 tournaments, pushing his tour-level title count past 100.
Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov’s 2025 Wimbledon run ended agonizingly in the fourth round. He was playing superb tennis, leading then-World No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 on Centre Court, with one of the biggest upsets within reach, only to suffer a serious right pectoral-muscle injury.
The Bulgarian collapsed to the ground and retired tearfully. Sinner, meanwhile, went on to defeat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final to earn his maiden Wimbledon crown.
The injury forced Dimitrov to skip the US Open and disrupted the rest of his season. Before Wimbledon, he had been playing quality tennis and building momentum. But the injury overshadowed all that progress.
Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa entered 2025 with renewed hope after a strong 2024 comeback. Her season started brightly as she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.
But her recovery was short-lived. A persistent lower-back injury forced her to retire mid-match at the Merida Open, withdraw from Indian Wells, withdraw mid-event at the Miami Open, and pull out of her home event at the Madrid Open.
Later in the year, she also withdrew from the China Open due to a left-hip injury, ending her season early. Despite glimpses of form, the repeated setbacks disrupted her momentum. In her statement announcing the year’s end, she vowed to return stronger in 2026.
Holger Rune
Holger Rune suffered a major setback during his 2025 season when he ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the semifinal of the Stockholm (Nordic Open) against Ugo Humbert, while leading 6-4, 2-2.
He immediately retired mid-match. It was later revealed that he required surgery and months of rehabilitation. Five weeks post-injury, Rune began rehab sessions, including one-legged practice, and posted that he’s coming back "stronger than ever."
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