Russian Erika Andreeva has been given a chance to compete in the Wimbledon tournament as a lucky loser after Aryna Sabalenka, the third seed, pulled out due to a shoulder injury. The Belarusian player had reached the semi-finals in 2021 and 2023 but was forced to retire from a match at the Berlin Open last week because of the issue.
On Monday, Sabalenka attempted to practice at Aorangi Park but had to leave after only 15 minutes due to the pain she was experiencing. Despite trying her best to prepare for her match against American Emina Bektas, Sabalenka ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw from the tournament.
In an Instagram post, Sabalenka expressed her disappointment at having to pull out of Wimbledon. She explained that she had done everything possible to try and get herself ready to play, but her shoulder simply wasn’t cooperating. Her team advised her that playing would only worsen the injury, so she had to listen to their guidance.
Sabalenka’s absence is sure to be felt at Wimbledon as fans will miss the opportunity to watch the talented player in action. However, Andreeva is looking forward to making her debut at one of tennis’ most prestigious tournaments and hopes to make the most of it.
The news of Sabalenka’s withdrawal has caused some excitement among fans who were eagerly waiting for her match against Bektas. Many are hoping that she will recover soon and return to competition as soon as possible.
The tournament continues with many exciting matches lined up, including Andreeva’s first round match against British wildcard Katie Swan. Fans can’t wait for all the action on court and off it!
