NEW YORK – Defending champion Arena Sabalenka returned to the US Open semi-finals without hitting the ball on Tuesday night.
“I tried my best to take you to court today, but I felt my knee again during the warm-up and after consultations with the tournament doctors, I decided not to risk exacerbating my injuries,” said Vondosova, a 26-year-old left-hander from the Czech Republic. “We would like to thank all the support in this tournament and apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the match.”
Vondrousova’s representative told ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez that he suffered injuries before his three-set victory against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Riakina, and Bondrousova played during his fourth match on Sunday night.
According to USTA, Vondrousova is the first woman to give her opponent a walkover in the quarterfinals since 1988 when Steffi Graf reached the finals after Chris Evert didn’t play in the semifinals.
Sabalenka will now meet No. 4 Jessica Pegra in Thursday’s semi-finals. This is the rematch of last year’s championship match at Flushing Meadows, where Sabalenka won the straight set.
This is the first time Sabalenka has made progress in the majors through Walkover or retirement.
“After all, I’m sorry to have been to Marka that she has experienced,” Sabalenka wrote on social media. “She plays amazing tennis, and I know how badly this hurts her.”
Sabalenka told ESPN’s Chris Badden that she was “shocked” by the news after seeing Vondrousova warm up and seeing him hoped he would recover quickly in the locker room.
Vondrousova was as high as sixth in the WTA rankings, but a series of injuries over the years led her to finish the tour for stretches at once. This included wrist and shoulder wrist surgery last year in 2022.
She entered the unseeded US Open at 60th.
“This place is very special to me. Just a year ago I had surgery and I don’t even know if I’ve returned or not,” Vondrousova wrote in her Instagram story. “To go back here, compete again and enjoy such a beautiful match means more than the words say.”
The final two women’s quarter-final match is scheduled for Wednesday: No. 2 Iga Swiatek vs. 8 Amanda Anisimova – It was the rematch of last month’s Wimbledon Finals, with Swiatek winning 6-0, 6-0.
It was Osaka’s first Grand Slam quarterfinal since Australia’s opening in 2021, and she claimed her fourth major trophy.
ESPN research and Associated Press contributed to this report.
