Nicole Melichar-Martinez sustained a complete anterior cruciate ligament tear during her final group-stage match at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on November 13, 2026.
The 33-year-old American doubles player collapsed near the net during the second set while competing alongside partner Cristina Bucsa against Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend. Melichar-Martinez immediately grabbed her knee in obvious distress, prompting the referee to summon medical personnel to the court.
Tennis Updates posted on the platform X regarding the immediate response, “They brought out a wheelchair because the situation didn't look the best, but she managed to walk off on her own power.”
The American, playing alongside her Spanish partner Cristina Bucsa, suffered the severe injury in their final group match against Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend. Melichar-Martinez reached a difficult volley at the net and felt pain during that stroke, leaving her unable to continue and forcing her and Bucsa to retire from the match.
The decisive group-stage encounter opened with Siniakova and Townsend dominating the first set after securing two breaks to lead 5:0. Although their opponents won two games in a row, they could not manage anything more and ultimately dropped the opening set 2:6. The Czech-and-American pair quickly seized control of the contest as the opening set shaped the remainder of the match.
In the second set, Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez continued having trouble with their serve, defending two break points before dropping a service game in the fourth game. Trailing 1:4, they once more had to win two points to save their service game, achieving that feat in what proved to be a pyrrhic victory before the 33-year-old American fell to the court holding her knee.
Melichar-Martinez reached the finals of Wimbledon 2018 and the US Open 2020 in women’s doubles. With the retirement sealing the outcome, Siniakova and Townsend advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 record.
Group B’s first place went to the Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini with a 3-0 record after they defeated Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs, who failed to win even a single set. Both pairs will learn their opponents for the semifinals on the night from Friday to Saturday, Polish time, following the conclusion of the third round of matches in Group A.
Magnetic resonance imaging completed the following day confirmed the severity of the damage to the American’s leg. Melichar-Martinez shared the diagnostic results with her supporters online through her official Instagram account, thanking everyone for the messages and support, particularly the WTA medical team, her husband Carlos Martinez, and her parents, while also addressing her doubles partner Cristina Bucsa.
The player said that she intends to keep her fans updated on her rehabilitation progress, though the injury dictates an extended break away from competitive play.
“The ACL is usually the straightforward part for the surgeon,” Brett Miller, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, said.
Unfortunately, during the match, I felt my knee give out. Today’s MRI confirmed a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) along with other damage. Needless to say, I won’t be able to play for some time.
Nicole Melichar-Martinez
The competitor also reflected on the timing of her exit and expressed gratitude toward her family, medical personnel, and her doubles partner. Nicole Melichar-Martinez wrote in her online message, “I'm sorry to Cristina that we had to end our great year this way, but I'm proud of our run and our fight.”
