On Day 1 of the third major championship of the year, Aryna Sabalenka, ranked world No. 3, announced her withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury she sustained in the Berlin Open last month. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the former world No. 1 expressed her disappointment at not being able to participate in the prestigious tournament this year. Sabalenka mentioned that she had tried everything to prepare herself but unfortunately, her shoulder was not cooperating. Despite this setback, she reassured her fans that she would return stronger than ever next year.
Sabalenka, who secured her second consecutive Australian Open title earlier this year, was considered a top contender at Wimbledon if she had been in good health. She was a notable presence at the French Open earlier in the summer, where she reached the quarterfinals before being defeated by 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. Throughout the French Open, Sabalenka struggled with a back injury which prevented her from playing at full capacity.
With her focus now on recovery, Sabalenka will take time off to rest her shoulder in anticipation of being fully fit for the U.S. Open scheduled to start in August. Despite her disappointment at missing Wimbledon, she remains determined to return to competitive form and is looking forward to getting back on court in the near future.