Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the semifinals of the US Open after her quarterfinal opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew due to a knee injury. Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, announced her withdrawal before the match, citing pain that worsened during her warm-up. This marked the first time a woman has received a walkover in the quarterfinals or later at the US Open since 1988.
Vondrousova expressed her disappointment in a statement, apologizing to fans and explaining her decision to avoid further injury. She had previously reached the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory over Elena Rybakina. Despite her recent success, Vondrousova has battled numerous injuries throughout her career.
Sabalenka, who won last year’s US Open final against Pegula, expressed sympathy for her opponent on social media. She will now face Pegula again in the semifinals, a rematch of that previous championship match. Pegula secured her place in the semifinals after defeating Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets.
The withdrawal of Vondrousova altered the tournament schedule. The US Open organizers rearranged the men’s quarterfinal match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz to fill the vacated time slot.
Pegula’s victory marks her second consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance. She commented on her ability to perform consistently under pressure in major tournaments. She is the first woman to reach the US Open semifinals in consecutive years without dropping a set since Serena Williams.
The remaining women’s quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Wednesday. These include a rematch of the Wimbledon final between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova, and a match between Karolina Muchova and Naomi Osaka. Osaka’s appearance marks her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2021 Australian Open.
Related
