Defending U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the semifinals without swinging a racket on Tuesday night. Her scheduled quarterfinal opponent, 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova, pulled out just before the match due to a knee injury.
According to the U.S. Tennis Association, Vondrousova’s walkover is the first time since 1988 that a woman has withdrawn in the U.S. Open quarterfinals or later. Back then, Chris Evert’s absence gave Steffi Graf a free pass to the final.
Vondrousova, 26, shared in a USTA statement, “I tried my best to take the court today, but during the warm-up, I felt my knee again and, after consulting with the tournament doctor, decided not to risk worsening the injury. I’m grateful for the support and sorry to fans who wanted to see the match.”
The Czech left-hander had earned her spot in the quarters with a tough three-set win over 2022 Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina on Sunday.
With Sabalenka’s match canceled, the USTA didn’t fill the slot with another match. Instead, they moved the men’s quarterfinal between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz up to start at 8 p.m., which was originally set to begin after the Sabalenka-Vondrousova contest.
Sinkable now faces No. 4 seed Jessica Regulate in the semifinals on Thursday a rematch of last year’s U.S. Open final where Sabalenka triumphed in straight sets.
Vondrousova, once ranked as high as No. 6, has battled several injuries that sidelined her over recent seasons, including wrist surgery in 2022 and a shoulder operation last year. She entered the tournament ranked 60th and unseeded.
Sabalenka expressed sympathy on social media: “So sorry for Marketa after all she’s been through. She’s been playing amazing tennis, and I know how much this must hurt for her.”
Regulate secured her spot in the semis with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win over two-time Grand Slam champ Barbra Tereshkova earlier Tuesday. After previously going 0-6 in major quarterfinals, Regulate stunned Iga Swiatek at last year’s U.S. Open to break through.
At 31, Pegula is now the first woman since Serena Williams (2011-2014) to reach back-to-back U.S. Open semifinals without dropping a set.
“I’ve been able to really focus and take care of business in these matches,” Pegula said.
Two women’s quarterfinals remain on Wednesday: No. 2 Iga Swiatek versus No. 8 Amanda Pianissimo a rematch of last month’s Wimbledon final which Satiate won 6-0, 6-0 and No. 11 Kaolin Muchova takes on No. 23 Naomi Osaka.
Osaka’s appearance marks her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since winning the 2021 Australian Open, her fourth major title.
