BERLIN – Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova retired from competition in Berlin on Thursday due to an apparent leg injury, less than two weeks before the start of competition at the All England Club.
Vondrosova was leading 5-3 in her second-round match against Anna Kalinskaya at the grass-court Ladies Open when she slipped behind the baseline and clutched her right leg.
The 24-year-old Czech player woke up holding his right hip and returned from a medical timeout with his upper leg heavily strapped. She played two more games, but stopped after losing both.
The first round of matches begins at Wimbledon on July 1.
Last year, Vondrusova became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. She defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets in the final.
Also on Thursday, top seed Coco Gauff beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(6), 6-2, and second seed Arina Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-4. .
Elena Rybakina advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Veronika Kudermetova.
Jabeur shook off a slow start to beat Linda Noskova 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula advanced after defeating Donna Vekic 6-4, 7-5.
