US Open: Sabalenka Advances to Semifinals as Vondrousova Forced to Withdraw with Knee Injury

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the US Open semifinals after Marketa Vondrousova was forced to withdraw from their quarterfinal match due to a knee injury, organisers confirmed on Tuesday. Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, had impressed in New York with upset victories over seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and ninth seed Elena Rybakina. However, her run came to a painful end after she pulled up during practice earlier on Tuesday.

"I am sorry to announce that I have to withdraw from my quarterfinal match this evening due to a knee injury," Vondrousova said in a statement. "I tried my best to take the court today, but during the warm-up I felt again my knee, and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury. I appreciate all the support this tournament and apologize to the fans who were looking forward to the match. I had an amazing time here in New York and can't wait to be back next year."

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World No. 1 Sabalenka will advance to the semifinals without having to play a point. She expressed her sympathy on Instagram: "So sorry for Marketa after all she's been through. She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her. Take care of yourself and I hope you can recover quickly."

ESPN footage showed the 26-year-old Vondrousova bending over in pain after hitting a forehand before leaving practice in tears. She later confirmed the injury, saying: "I tried my best to take the court today but during the warm-up I felt again my knee and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury. I appreciate all the support ... and apologise to the fans who were looking forward to the match. I had an amazing time here in New York and can't wait to be back next year."

It marked another cruel blow for Vondrousova, who has endured long spells away from the tour due to shoulder problems, missing last year's US Open and January's Australian Open. She was one of three Czech women to reach the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.

"It's so tough to see," Sabalenka wrote on Instagram. "So sorry for Marketa after all she's been through. She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her."

Sabalenka became only the third woman in the professional era to receive a walkover into a Grand Slam semifinal, joining Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Australian Open 1992) and Fabiola Zuluaga (Australian Open 2004).

Top seed Sabalenka now faces American Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday, setting up a rematch of last year's final, which Sabalenka won in straight sets. Pegula reached the last four after a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Barbora Krejcikova (pen 2004).