Sabalenka's Wimbledon Hopes in Doubt Due to Shoulder Injury

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka's Wimbledon participation is in jeopardy due to a lingering shoulder injury. The world No. 3 retired from her Berlin campaign in the quarterfinals and is still not fully recovered.

Sabalenka arrived at Wimbledon with hopes of playing her first match on Monday against Emina Bektas. However, she admitted during Saturday's media day that she is not 100% ready.

"We're doing everything we can with my team to make sure I'll be able to play my first match here," Sabalenka said. "I'm not 100% ready."

The injury is located in the teres major muscle, which is a rare injury for tennis players. Sabalenka explained that she can practice her groundstrokes but struggles with serving.

"It's really a specific injury, and it's really a rare one. Probably I'm just the second or the third tennis player who injured that muscle," Sabalenka said.

"The most annoying thing is that I can do anything. I can practice, I can hit my groundstrokes. I'm struggling with serving. That's really annoying. You don't feel like you're injured. If you give me some weights, I'm going to go lift some weights. But if you tell me to serve, I'm going to go through pain."

Despite the injury, Sabalenka remains optimistic that she will be able to play at Wimbledon. She has reached the semifinals at the All England Club in two of the past three years and is looking to win her first grass-court trophy.

"I would say that I never come on the tournament with the high expectations," she stated.

"Of course, I know my level. I know what I'm capable of. I never put myself under so much pressure."

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