Two of the top contenders for the women’s singles title at Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur, have both retired from their matches before the Grand Slam tournament began. Sabalenka, who is ranked third in the world, injured her shoulder while trailing 5-1 against Anna Kalinskaya during a quarter-final match at the Berlin Open. Meanwhile, Jabeur decided to withdraw from her first round match against Coco Gauff due to illness after losing the first set 7-6 (11-9).
Reigning champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina also withdrew from their matches earlier in the tournament. The first round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon will begin on July 1st. Gauff, who won the championship as a teenager in 2019, will face either compatriot Jessica Pegula or Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. Kalinskaya, who has won all seven of her matches against top-10 players this season, will play former world number one Victoria Azarenka in her opening round match.
