The Wimbledon champions Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Berlin Open this week, making Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur the most recent women in the top 10 to withdraw due to illness or injury on Saturday.
Due to shoulder soreness, Sabalenka had to withdraw from her quarterfinal match against Anna Kalinskaya of Russia after the Belarusian fell behind 5-1 in the first set.
It was the first time Sabalenka had ever had to withdraw from a match due to an injury in her WTA Tour career.
Wimbledon champion Vondrousova stumbled and fell during their last-16 match, causing the Czech player to retire, and Kalinskaya advanced to the semifinals with two walkovers.
In her semifinal match against Coco Gauff, Jabeur played a 72-minute opening set that the American won 7-6.
“We had such an amazing first set, so it doesn’t seem like a win. After making it to the semifinals, Gauff remarked, “I hope the best for Ons.”
“I believe it’s a situation that will just arise today, and tomorrow she will feel better. I believe she will compete well at Wimbledon.”
Illness forced Rybakina to withdraw on Friday, advancing Belarusian Victoria Azarenka to the semifinals. It was obvious that Rybakina was having discomfort in her abdomen.
