In a surprising turn of events at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, punched her ticket to the semifinals without ever stepping onto the court. This unexpected advantage came thanks to the withdrawal of Czech star Marketa Vondrousova, who pulled out of the tournament due to an injury.
It’s a tough break for Vondrousova, who had been a strong contender. The news was confirmed by the tournament organizers themselves. They released a brief statement on social media, simply saying: “Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the women’s singles tournament with an injury.”
For Sabalenka, this marks her incredible twelfth consecutive appearance in a major semifinal. The only major she hasn’t reached this stage in recently was Wimbledon in 2024. Her trophy cabinet is already impressive, featuring a US Open title from 2024 and back-to-back Australian Open crowns in both 2023 and 2024. She’s clearly a dominant force on the circuit.
Now, Sabalenka faces a significant challenge in the semifinals against American Jessica Pegula, ranked fourth globally. Pegula, who was a finalist here in New York last year in 2024, earned her spot with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Barbora Krejcikova, the 62nd-ranked player.