Aryna Sabalenka moves closer to defending her US Open title as her quarterfinal opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, had to withdraw due to a knee injury. The world No. 1 and defending champion didn’t even have to step onto the court to advance to the semifinals.
Vondrousova, who won Wimbledon earlier this year, shared good and bad news with her fans. She wrote, “I’m sorry to withdraw from my quarterfinal match due to a knee injury. I tried to play, but during warm-up, I felt my knee again. After talking to the tournament doctor, I decided not to risk worsening the injury. I want to thank everyone for their support and apologize to the fans looking forward to the match. I had an amazing time in New York and can’t wait to return next year.”
Sabalenka responded warmly on her Instagram story, saying, “So sorry for Marketa after all she’s been through. She’s been playing fantastic tennis, and I know how much this hurts for her. Take care of yourself, Marketa, and I hope you recover quickly.”
With her easy entry into the semifinals, Sabalenka now faces Jessica Pegula, a fellow American. Pegula defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-3 in their quarterfinal match, moving into her second major semifinal. The 31-year-old Pegula is making history by reaching her second Grand Slam semifinal after turning 30—only the second player in the Open Era to do so, after Flavia Pennetta who reached the US Open semifinals at age 31 and then won the title in 2015.
This upcoming semifinal promises an exciting rematch of last year’s US Open final, which Sabalenka won in straight sets. Fans are eager to see if Sabalenka can hold onto her title or if Pegula will cause an upset. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling US Open journey.
