As many as three WTA players have recently announced that they are stepping away from tennis until further notice. Beatriz Haddad Maia was the first to make the announcement six days ago, followed by Lulu Sun, while Laura Siegemund has now become the latest player to reveal that she is taking a break from the sport.
About a month after announcing her engagement to her childhood friend, Alex Daoud, former Top 10 player Haddad Maia of Brazil posted a video message informing fans that she would not compete on the WTA Tour for the remainder of 2026. The decision came after eight consecutive losses, the latest of which was a first-round defeat at Wimbledon.
“I know I kind of disappeared and I used this time to reflect a lot,” she said in her native Portuguese. Haddad Maia confirmed that she plans to take the rest of the year off and return in 2027 with a protected ranking. “It’s a decision I’ve been dealing with mentally for a few months,” the 30-year-old said.
The former world No. 39 Sun has found it increasingly difficult to cope with the demands and pressures of professional tennis, deciding that the best course of action was to enjoy life away from the court for a while.
“The physical and mental demands of a competition schedule are relentless and can impact your life in more ways than one,” the 25-year-old revealed, explaining that she would like to reset and prepare for what’s ahead. “With that in mind, I have decided to take some time away from competition to give myself a little space for my wellbeing and to enjoy life beyond the tennis court.”
Sun’s last tournament was Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round of qualifying.
Siegemund, currently ranked No. 98 in singles and No. 21 in doubles, is the latest to announce a break. The 38-year-old German also last competed at Wimbledon and has confirmed that she will miss the upcoming North American hard-court swing while taking an indefinite break from competition.
“After Wimbledon I’ve decided to take a break from competition and I will miss the US swing and not play for a while. I will take some time off, recover the mind and the body, and then see where it takes me next.”
