Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered a setback in her preparation for the upcoming tournament, retiring injured from her second-round match at the Berlin Open. The fifth-seeded Czech was leading 5-3 in the first set against Anna Kalinskaya when she slipped on the first point of the ninth game. The unfortunate fall resulted in an injury to her right hip, forcing her to seek medical attention.
Despite receiving treatment, Vondrousova was unable to continue the match, retiring with the set tied at 5-5. The injury is a concerning development for the reigning Wimbledon champion, with less than two weeks remaining before the start of the prestigious tournament on July 1st. Vondrousova will need to prioritize her recovery to be in optimal condition for her title defense.
Unseeded Russian Kalinskaya capitalized on Vondrousova’s withdrawal, advancing to the quarterfinals where she will face either Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka or another unseeded Russian, Daria Kasatkina.
In other matches, Elena Rybakina, Vondrousova’s predecessor as Wimbledon champion, displayed resilience to secure her place in the quarterfinals. The third-seeded Kazakh faced a tough challenge from unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova, who broke her serve early in the second set. However, Rybakina fought back, winning the next four games to level the set at 4-4 and ultimately triumphing 6-4, 7-5.
Top seed Coco Gauff also faced a demanding encounter, overcoming three set points in the first set before ultimately securing a 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova. Gauff’s victory was a testament to her fighting spirit and determination, as she demonstrated her resilience in the face of adversity.
