Victoria Azarenka into Berlin Ladies Open semis as Elena Rybakina retires on Friday

WTA
Friday, 21 June 2024 at 12:54
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World number three Elena Rybakina has retired from the Berlin Ladie Open after going in the quarterfinal against Victoria Azarenka. The competition is moving towards the business end where different players are participating to ensure some practice ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year.

Wimbledon 2024 will begin from the first of July where players from all over the glob will battle to secure the ultimate prize. On Friday, Rybakina and Azarenka were set to face off in what was anticipated to be a mouthwatering quarterfinal clash.

However, the contest lasted just 15 minutes as Rybakina was forced to withdraw after the fourth game in the first set because of a fitness concern. Azarenka was leading 3-1 when the game was called off.

The result was a bad one for Rybakina who was coming into the competition on the back of a rather unimpressive outing in the recently concluded French Open where she was knocked out after losing in the quarterfinal to Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

It is not the first time when the Moscow-born star has struggled with fitness concern this season. Earlier she withdrew before the start of her first outing in the Indian Wells where her opponent was Nadia Podoroska. After that, the current world number four also withdrew from the Rome Open before her second-round clash against Irina-Camelia Begu.

Photo - IMAGO
With Rybakina's withdrawal, Victoria Azarenka booked her place in the semifinals of a competition for the second time in 2024. 

On the other hand, the result was a great one for Azarenka who managed to only secure a place in the semifinal of an event for the second time this season. Previously, she played in the last-four clash of the Miami Open where she was knocked out after losing to Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 0-6, 7-6.

Azarenka came into the competition after a disappointing outing in the French Open, where she was knocked out after losing in the second round to Mirra Andreeva with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

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