NEW YORK, USA — In a highly unusual turn of events at the 2025 US Open, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the semifinals without hitting a single ball. Her quarterfinal opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, was forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a knee injury.
The walkover makes Sabalenka the first woman in over two decades to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in this manner, an extraordinary feat that was last achieved by Fabiola Zuluaga at the 2004 Australian Open. The only other player to do so in the Open Era was Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the 1992 Australian Open.
Vondrousova’s Unfortunate Exit
The victory comes at the expense of Marketa Vondrousova, who had been in impressive form throughout the tournament. The reigning Wimbledon champion had registered significant wins over top-10 seeds Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina. However, her campaign ended abruptly during a practice session on Tuesday, when she was seen in visible distress after hitting a forehand. The setback adds to a history of injuries for the Czech player, who had also missed the previous year’s US Open and the 2024 Australian Open due to shoulder problems.
Sabalenka expressed sympathy for her opponent on social media, writing: “So sorry for Marketa after all she’s been through. She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her.”
Looking Ahead to the Semifinals
As the top seed, Sabalenka will now prepare for a high-stakes semifinal clash against American Jessica Pegula. The matchup is a rematch of last year’s US Open final. With her third career Grand Slam title on the line, Sabalenka has looked dominant throughout the tournament and will be fresh for her upcoming match.
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