Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova faced a concerning injury scare just before the prestigious tournament as she was compelled to retire in Berlin. The Czech, who had remarkably clinched her first Grand Slam title the previous summer, encountered a distressing fall behind the baseline during her gripping second-round match against Anna Kalinskaya at the ecotrans Ladies Open. At the time of her fall, Vondrousova was leading 5-3 but had to gingerly rise, gripping her right hip area, and subsequently take an off-court medical time-out.
Following her return with heavy strapping, Vondrousova valiantly played two more games, although unfortunate losses ensued, prompting her to gracefully shake hands with Kalinskaya. The situation is particularly concerning as the defending champion is slated to play her first-round match at the All England Club on Centre Court on July 2.
Meanwhile, Vondrousova’s predecessor, Elena Rybakina, demonstrated her prowess by advancing to the quarter-finals with a commendable 6-4 7-5 victory over Veronika Kudermetova, further solidifying her status as a formidable contender. Additionally, top seed Coco Gauff showcased her exceptional skills as she secured a spot in the quarter-finals by triumphing over Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 7-6 (8-6) 6-2, thus avenging her defeat to the Russian at the same tournament stage last year.
Looking ahead, Gauff is set to face 2022 Berlin champion, Ons Jabeur, who notably defeated the American in the previous year’s semi-finals, in what promises to be an enthralling match. Jabeur’s path to this anticipated clash was marked by a hard-fought victory over Linda Noskova with a score of 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 6-4, reaffirming the Tunisian’s remarkable skill and resilience on the court.
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