Vondrousova Withdraws from US Open Quarterfinals After Practice Injury
Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the US Open 2025 quarterfinals on Tuesday night, handing defending champion Aryna Sabalenka a walkover into the semifinals. The decision came just two hours before the Arthur Ashe Stadium match was set to begin, after Vondrousova suffered a practice injury earlier in the day. The U.S. Tennis Association confirmed the withdrawal, though the specifics of her injury were not disclosed. Observers saw the 26-year-old Czech limping with a wrap around her left leg, signaling the seriousness of her condition.
BREAKING:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 2, 2025
Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from U.S. Open due to an injury she picked up in practice
This is so sad… life just hasn’t been fair to this woman
So many injuries have held her back
Wishing her a quick recovery ❤️🩹
Sabalenka is into the SF
pic.twitter.com/XoAR4RSHnJ
Vondrousova, who was unseeded and ranked 60th entering Flushing Meadows, pulled out after wincing in pain during an afternoon practice session. Following a forehand, she doubled over and cautiously made her way to the sidelines, unable to continue. The left-hander had been riding a wave of momentum, defeating 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a thrilling three-set battle just days earlier to reach the quarterfinals. She was also one of three Czech women to make it to this stage of the tournament.
Though the Czech reached a career-high No. 6 in the WTA rankings in September 2023, her journey has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries. She underwent shoulder surgery in 2024 and wrist surgery in 2022, causing extended absences from the tour. Her withdrawal at the US Open continues a frustrating pattern of health setbacks that have stalled her momentum just as she reaches the deeper rounds of major tournaments.
Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the Women's Singles event with an injury.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2025
A revised schedule for tonight's evening session will follow shortly.
For Sabalenka, the walkover provides a rare advance without playing. She will now face fourth seed Jessica Pegula in Thursday’s semifinals, a rematch of last year’s US Open finals, which Sabalenka won in straight sets. “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 on her Instagram story. “Take care of yourself, and I hope you can recover quickly.”
While fans were eagerly anticipating a blockbuster clash, the focus now shifts to recovery for Vondrousova, whose talent continues to promise spectacular performances whenever she returns to full fitness.
Mandatory Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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mma I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
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