Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur Withdraw Ahead of Wimbledon

Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur joined the list of Wimbledon hopefuls retiring early from matches ahead of the Grand Slam tournament. Aryna Sabalenka, ranked third in the world, withdrew from her Berlin Open quarter-final against Anna Kalinskaya while trailing 5-1, citing a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur opted not to continue after losing the first set 7-6 (11-9) to Coco Gauff due to illness.

Defending Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina also retired from earlier matches in the tournament. The women’s singles at Wimbledon kicks off on 1 July. Jabeur valiantly saved eight set points against Gauff before conceding the first set. She received medical attention for breathing issues but decided against playing the second set.

Gauff expressed sympathy for Jabeur in her on-court interview, acknowledging the challenging circumstances and wishing her a swift recovery before Wimbledon. Earlier in the week, Vondrousova slipped and injured her right hip against Kalinskaya in the second round while Rybakina withdrew from her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka due to illness.

Kalinskaya secured a spot in the Berlin Open final with a 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1 victory over Victoria Azarenka, advancing as the first finalist. She will face either Gauff or Jessica Pegula, whose semi-final match was interrupted by rain with Pegula leading the tie-break in the second set.

In Birmingham, Ajla Tomljanovic reached her first WTA Tour final in five years by defeating Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Tomljanovic, a two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, has faced setbacks, dropping to 190th in the world rankings in 2023 due to injuries. She will face Yulia Putintseva in the final, who defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-2, 6-2 and is seeking her third career singles title and first on grass.