Major shakeup in women’s singles at Wimbledon as top contenders withdraw from matches

Two of the women’s singles title contenders at Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur, recently retired from their matches in the lead up to the Grand Slam tournament. Sabalenka, ranked number three in the world, retired from her Berlin Open quarter-final against Anna Kalinskaya due to a shoulder injury while trailing 5-1. Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur decided not to continue after dropping the first set 7-6 (11-9) to Coco Gauff because of illness.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina also retired from their matches earlier in the tournament. The first round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon begins on 1 July. Gauff will face either compatriot Jessica Pegula or Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. Kalinskaya, who holds a 7-0 win record against top-10 players this season, will play former world number one Victoria Azarenka.