Markéta Vondroušová injury withdrawal sends Aryna Sabalenka into US Open semifinals

Top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has been handed a walkover into her fifth straight US Open semifinal after opponent Markéta Vondroušová withdrew from their quarterfinal due to injury.

Just hours before the pair were set to hit Arthur Ashe Stadium for their last-eight clash, Czechia's Vondroušová pulled up in pain while hitting on an indoor practice court.

The 2023 Wimbledon champion had been scheduled for a final hit-up on Ashe about two hours before her clash with Sabalenka but tweaked an injury while hitting a forehand in practice.

The 26-year-old immediately doubled over in pain and walked to her chair, covering her face with a towel as she started to cry before walking off the court.

"I tried my best to take the court today but during the warm-up I felt again my knee and after consultation with the tournament doctor decided not to risk aggravating the injury," Vondroušová said in a statement.

"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."

ESPN showed footage of Sabalenka in the players' tunnel being told by an official about the withdrawal while on her way out to practice, ultimately turning around and booking another practice session.

"So sorry for Marketa after all she's been through," Sabalenka wrote on social media.

"She has been playing amazing tennis and I know how badly this must hurt for her.

"Take care of yourself and I hope you can recover quickly."

Aryna Sabalenka will face Jess Pegula in the semis for a rematch of last year's final. (Reuters: Mike Segar)

It has been a rough stretch for Vondroušová, who two years ago became the first unseeded woman in the Open era to win Wimbledon, climbing to sixth in the rankings by the end of the season only for injuries to strike.

Her title defence at SW19 ended in the first round last year and she missed the back half of the year, including the Paris Olympics and US Open, with a hand injury.

She returned in January this year, but retired from a match at the Adelaide International and could not line up at the Australian Open, playing a handful of matches in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in February before sitting out three months with a shoulder injury.

She returned for a second-round exit at the French Open and then won her first tournament since Wimbledon 2023, beating Madison Keys, Ons Jabeur and Sabalenka en route to the Berlin Open crown in June.

Ranked 60th coming into New York this year, she beat seeded players McKartney Kessler (32), Jasmine Paolini (7) and Elena Rybakina (9) in three successive matches to reach her first US quarterfinal since 2023.

Sabalenka will face fourth seed Jess Pegula in the semis after the American beat another Wimbledon-winning Czech, 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the final four at her home slam for the second straight year.

Pegula lost to Sabalenka in last year's final.

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