Sabalenka Advances to U.S. Open Semifinals as Vondrousova Withdraws
NEW YORK — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has secured her spot in the U.S. Open semifinals without stepping onto the court. This unexpected development occurred when Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, had to withdraw from their quarterfinal match due to a knee injury.
Vondrousova, 26, shared that during her warm-up she felt discomfort in her knee. After consulting with the tournament doctor, she made the tough decision to not risk further injury. This marks a historic moment as she is the first woman to give a walkover in the U.S. Open quarterfinals or later since 1988, when Chris Evert withdrew from her semifinal against Steffi Graf.
“I appreciate all the support this tournament has given me, and I apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the match,” Vondrousova stated.
She reached the quarterfinals after a hard-fought three-set victory over 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina just days earlier.
The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) opted not to replace the canceled Sabalenka vs. Vondrousova match on the schedule. Instead, they moved forward with the men’s quarterfinal featuring the legendary Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz, which was originally set to start after the women’s match.
Now, Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday. This matchup revisits last year’s championship clash at Flushing Meadows, where Sabalenka triumphed in straight sets.
Pegula advanced to this stage by defeating two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova earlier, making her way to her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal without dropping a set—a feat not seen since Serena Williams achieved it from 2011 to 2014.
“I’ve been able to kind of go into those matches and really take care of business,” Pegula commented.
As more exciting matches approach, fans can look forward to Wednesday’s quarterfinals, featuring No. 2 Iga Swiatek against No. 8 Amanda Anisimova and No. 11 Karolina Muchova facing No. 23 Naomi Osaka, who is making her return to a Grand Slam quarterfinal after a long hiatus.
In a world of sports where competition can sometimes overshadow the spirit of camaraderie, stories like Vondrousova’s serve as a reminder of the challenges athletes face beyond the court. Fans continue to rally around their favorite players, showing support regardless of the outcomes.
