NEW YORK — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has made her way back to the US Open semifinals without stepping onto the court, as her scheduled opponent, 2023 Wimbledon titleholder Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew from their quarterfinal matchup due to injury.
The U.S. Tennis Association announced the unexpected walkover roughly two hours before the match was set to take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but details regarding Vondrousova’s condition—a talented 26-year-old left-hander from Czechia—were not disclosed.
Vondrousova had earned her quarterfinal spot with a gripping three-set win over 2022 Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina just last Sunday.
Sabalenka is now poised to face No. 4 Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday, offering fans a rematch of last year’s championship match at Flushing Meadows, where Sabalenka triumphed in straight sets.
Vondrousova has previously reached as high as No. 6 in the WTA rankings, but a string of injuries has sidelined her from the tour for extended periods, including surgeries on her wrist in 2022 and her shoulder last year.
Entering this year’s US Open, she was ranked No. 60 and unseeded.
