Aryna Sabalenka Advances to US Open Semifinals After Marketa Vondrousova Injury Withdrawal

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was forced to withdraw from the 2025 US Open quarterfinals against Aryna Sabalenka due to a knee injury sustained during practice, handing Sabalenka a walkover into the semifinals. Vondrousova, who had impressed by defeating top players like Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini, expressed her disappointment but emphasized the importance of not aggravating her injury. Aryna Sabalenka, the defending US Open champion and world No. 1, responded with a heartfelt message on social media, expressing sympathy for Vondrousova's injury struggles and wishing her a speedy recovery, highlighting Sabalenka's own experience with injuries. Sabalenka is set to face Jessica Pegula in the US Open semifinals, a rematch of last year's final, where Sabalenka leads their head-to-head record. Vondrousova's withdrawal marks another setback in her injury-plagued career, which has included wrist, hand, and shoulder injuries causing her to miss several major tournaments previously. Sabalenka’s walkover into the semis makes her only the third woman in the professional era to receive such a Grand Slam advantage.