Marketa Vondrousova injury update: Aryna Sabalenka's sweet message for opponent after US Open walkover

Aryna Sabalenka posted a sweet message for her US Open rival, Marketa Vondrousova, after the 26-year-old was forced to retire in the quarterfinal.

Published on: Sep 3, 2025, 05:22:52 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Aryna Sabalenka posted a sweet message for her US Open rival, Marketa Vondrousova, after the 26-year-old was forced to retire in the quarterfinal because of an injury. The Czech star suffered a knee injury, organizers confirmed on Tuesday.

Aryna Sabalenka reacts against Cristina Bucsa of Spain during their Women's Singles Fourth Round match (Getty Images via AFP)

Vondrousova, who won the 2023 Wimbledon, breezed past several high-profile opponents in the US Open, including seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and ninth seed Elena Rybakina. Her run, however, came to an end after she pulled up in practice earlier on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, a video showed Vondrousova bending over in pain after hitting a forehand. She had to leave the court in tears. "I tried my best to take the court today but during the warm-up I felt my knee again and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury," she said.

"I appreciate all the support ... and apologise to the fans who were looking forward to the match. I had an amazing time here in New York and can't wait to be back next year."

Sabalenka, who got an easy walkover into the semis, posted a sweet message for Marketa.

“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,” Sabalenka wrote in her Instagram story. “Take care of yourself and I hope you can recover quickly. Love Aryna.”

Marketa Vondrousova injury update

Tuesday marked another cruel blow for Vondrousova, who has endured long spells away from the tour due to shoulder problems, missing last year's US Open and January's Australian Open.

She was one of three Czech women to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka became only the third woman in the professional era to receive a walkover into a Grand Slam semi-final, joining Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (Australian Open 1992) and Fabiola Zuluaga (Australian Open 2004). She will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.

(With Reuters inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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