Aryna Sabalenka is through to the US Open semi-finals without hitting a ball after her opponent, Marketa Vondrousova, withdrew due to injury.
The 2023 Wimbledon champion had been in good form in New York, beating two top-ten players, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina, on her way to the quarter-finals.
However, injury problems returned for the 26-year-old Czech player, who has struggled with fitness throughout her career. She was one of three Czech women to reach the quarter-finals at this year’s tournament.
Sabalenka, the top seed and defending US Open champion, will now face American Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals, a repeat of last year’s final.
