Tennis

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2021 Wimbledon champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Olympics due to a hand injury. The Czech left-hander announced her decision on social media, expressing her disappointment but prioritizing her recovery for the US Open.Vondrousova's withdrawal is a significant blow to the Czech team, as she was expected to play both singles and doubles. She was set to partner with Karolina Muchova in doubles, but her place will now be taken by Katerina Siniakova. Linda Noskova will join Muchova in the doubles competition.In her Olympic debut in Tokyo, Vondrousova made a remarkable run to the silver medal. She defeated then-world No. 2 Naomi Osaka and other top players en route to the gold-medal match, where she lost to Belinda Bencic.Vondrousova's withdrawal means that two of the three medalists from the Tokyo Olympics will not be competing in Paris. Bencic is on maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter in April, while bronze medalist Elina Svitolina remains in the field.Vondrousova's injury woes have been a recurring issue throughout her career. She suffered a hip injury in a slip and fall at the pre-Wimbledon event in Berlin, which hampered her title defense at the All England Club. She lost in the first round to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, becoming only the second woman in the Open Era to lose in the first round of Wimbledon after winning the title the previous year.As a result of her early exit at Wimbledon, Vondrousova dropped from No. 6 to No. 18 in the WTA rankings. She will now focus on recovering from her hand injury and preparing for the US Open, which begins in five weeks.

Grigor Dimitrov's Wimbledon campaign came to an abrupt end in the fourth round when he was forced to retire against Daniil Medvedev due to an abductor tear in his left leg. The Bulgarian revealed the extent of his injury on social media, expressing disappointment but remaining optimistic about his recovery.Dimitrov's injury occurred during the first set of the match, when he slipped and fell on the grass-court surface. Despite receiving treatment, he was unable to continue after just eight games, with Medvedev leading 5-3. The premature exit was a setback for Dimitrov, who had been enjoying a resurgent year.In April, he returned to the ATP Top 10 for the first time in over five years, reaching the final of the Miami Masters 1000. He also completed the career set of Grand Slam quarterfinals with a run to the last eight at Roland Garros.Dimitrov's injury is a significant blow to his hopes of continuing his strong form. He is currently on the entry list for the ATP and WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C., which begins on July 27. However, his participation is now in doubt.The Bulgarian remains ineligible to play in the Paris Olympics, having not represented Bulgaria in Davis Cup since 2015. Despite the setback, Dimitrov expressed gratitude for the support he has received and vowed to return to action soon."Looking forward to getting back out there!" the 33-year-old wrote on social media.

At Wimbledon, American Danielle Collins' Wimbledon run came to an abrupt end in the round of 16 against Barbora Krejcikova. Collins, seeded 11th, suffered a left leg injury while trailing 1-3 in the second set, forcing her to seek medical attention. Upon returning to the court, she lost the next two points and ultimately the match 7-5, 6-3.The match marked a disappointing conclusion to Collins' impressive 2024 season, which included a run to the semifinals of the Australian Open. Despite her injury, Collins expressed her admiration for Wimbledon's rich history and traditions.Krejcikova, seeded 31st, advanced to her first Wimbledon singles quarterfinal, becoming the first Czech woman to reach the last eight since Petra Kvitova in 2014. She praised Collins' fighting spirit and acknowledged the challenges posed by her opponent's aggressive playing style.The contrast between Collins' and Krejcikova's styles was evident throughout the match. Collins' powerful groundstrokes and vocal on-court presence contrasted with Krejcikova's more subtle and varied game.Krejcikova's next opponent will be Jelena Ostapenko, who has won five of their seven previous encounters. The match promises to be another intriguing clash of styles, with Ostapenko's aggressive baseline play facing off against Krejcikova's versatility and court coverage.

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, defeating Anna Kalinskaya in a match that ended prematurely due to injury.Rybakina, the fourth seed, faced a tough start against Kalinskaya, who took an early 3-1 lead. However, Rybakina rallied back, winning eight consecutive games to take the first set and establish a commanding lead in the second.Kalinskaya, who has been linked to ATP world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, was forced to retire after just 53 minutes on Centre Court due to an undisclosed injury. The Russian-born Kazakh had been playing well in her third main-draw appearance at Wimbledon, reaching the second week without dropping a set.Rybakina, who has been a consistent performer since her breakthrough season in 2020, has emerged as the favorite to win a second Wimbledon title. She has been in impressive form, losing just one game in her third-round match against former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.In the quarterfinals, Rybakina will face the winner of the fourth-round clash between 2023 semifinalist Elina Svitolina and China's Wang Xinyu, who knocked out No. 5 seed Jessica Pegula earlier in the tournament.

Tenth-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov's Wimbledon campaign came to an abrupt end on Sunday when he was forced to retire injured in the first set of his fourth-round clash against fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev.Dimitrov, who had been in impressive form throughout the tournament, started the match strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead. However, Medvedev fought back to break Dimitrov's serve and level the set at 3-3.Disaster struck for Dimitrov in the sixth game when he slipped on Court One. He attempted to continue playing but was clearly hampered by the injury. After losing the next two games, Dimitrov took a medical timeout.Upon returning to the court, Dimitrov struggled to move effectively. He managed to win one more game before Medvedev served three aces to take the eighth game and seal the set. Dimitrov then decided to retire from the match, handing Medvedev a place in the quarterfinals.Medvedev will now face top seed Jannick Sinner in the last eight. The Russian has a 6-5 head-to-head record against the Italian world No. 1, but Sinner has won their last five encounters.Dimitrov's injury is a major blow to his Wimbledon hopes. The Bulgarian had been playing some of his best tennis in recent months and was considered a potential contender for the title. However, he will now have to focus on recovering from his injury and preparing for the upcoming hard-court season.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev overcame an injury scare and a marathon third-set tiebreak to defeat Cameron Norrie of Great Britain 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(15) at Wimbledon on Saturday. The victory marked Zverev's third appearance in the fourth round at the All England Club.Zverev's serve proved to be a formidable weapon throughout the match, as he dropped only two points on serve in the third set. However, one of those points came via a double fault that handed Norrie an early advantage in the tiebreak.Norrie, who had upset new British number one Jack Draper in the previous round, fought valiantly and had five set points of his own to extend the contest. Zverev's knee, which he appeared to strain in the second set, also raised concerns.Despite the injury and Norrie's spirited resistance, Zverev remained unyielding. He struck the ball with clinical precision and served magnificently, ultimately converting his sixth match point under the Centre Court roof."I do feel like a cow on ice sometimes (on grass)," Zverev admitted after the match. "But I managed. I do feel restricted on some of the movements, but I'm pleased I was able to play the way that I did."Norrie, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, played his best tennis in the tiebreak, but Zverev's unwavering focus and superior shot-making proved too much to overcome.The match featured an incredible conclusion, with 29 of the first 31 points of the tiebreak going with serve. The tension was palpable as both players refused to blink. Zverev eventually prevailed, but the match could have broken a Wimbledon tiebreak record had it gone on for a few more points.

Paula Badosa's Triumphant Return to Wimbledon's Second WeekPaula Badosa's emotional victory over Daria Kasatkina at Wimbledon marked a significant milestone in her comeback journey. The former world No. 2 battled through a grueling three-set match to secure her place in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in two years.Badosa's triumph was particularly poignant given her recent struggles with a career-threatening back injury. In April, she revealed that doctors had warned her that her playing days could be numbered. However, her determination and resilience have propelled her back to the top of the game.After her victory, Badosa was overcome with emotion, holding back tears during her on-court interview. She expressed her gratitude to the crowd for their unwavering support, which has been a driving force in her recovery."One of the reasons I come back on the court is for you guys," she said. "Hearing my name and cheering for me, it's really for you guys. I really feel the love."Badosa's return to form has been gradual but steady. She reached the round of 16 in Rome, pushing Coco Gauff to a third set, and the third round of Roland Garros. Prior to Wimbledon, she reached her first quarterfinal of the season in Bad Homburg, a result that put her back inside the Top 100.Her victory at Wimbledon is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the support of her loved ones, including her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek star was quick to congratulate Badosa on social media, writing, "Proud of you."Badosa's journey is an inspiration to all athletes who have faced adversity. Her determination and resilience serve as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work and the support of those around you.

Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, a contender for the Wimbledon title, was forced to withdraw from his second-round match against Arthur Fils on Thursday due to a knee injury. The seventh-seeded Hurkacz, who reached the semi-finals in 2021 after defeating eight-time champion Roger Federer, sustained the injury while diving for a ball during the fourth set tie-break.Despite limping back to his chair on Court Two, Hurkacz continued for two more points before retiring, handing 20-year-old Fils his first Grand Slam third-round appearance. Fils had taken the first two sets 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, while Hurkacz claimed the third 6-2 and had a set point in the fourth before his premature exit."It's not nice to win like that against a friend. We had a very good match, he was diving everywhere," said Fils, ranked 34th in the world. "I hope he gets better quickly. Now I'm focusing on the next round."Fils will face either Roman Safiullin of Russia or Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic for a place in the last 16. "I didn't like grass very much in the past, but it turns out that I can play it quite well," said the Frenchman.Hurkacz's injury is a significant blow to his Wimbledon hopes. The 25-year-old has been in impressive form this season, winning the Halle Open on grass in June. He was considered an outside favorite for the Wimbledon title, but his withdrawal leaves the tournament wide open.Fils, on the other hand, has seized the opportunity with both hands. The young Frenchman has shown great resilience and determination in his first two matches at Wimbledon. He will be hoping to continue his impressive run and make a deep run into the tournament.

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2023 due to an ongoing injury. The Belarusian star had been struggling with a teres major muscle issue, which affects her ability to serve.Sabalenka first experienced discomfort during the Berlin grass-court tune-up, where she retired from her match against Anna Kalinskaya. She had previously won her opening match against Daria Kasatkina.Despite her best efforts to recover, Sabalenka's injury persisted. On Monday, she cut a practice session short and was seen shaking her head and saying "no" to her coach. It became clear that she would not be able to compete at Wimbledon.Sabalenka's withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament. She was seeded No. 3 and was considered a contender for the title. Her absence opens up the draw, particularly in the top half where she was placed in Coco Gauff's section.The 26-year-old expressed disappointment at having to pull out of Wimbledon. She has only played the tournament twice since 2019, but has reached the semifinals both times."I'm not 100% ready," Sabalenka said on media day. "We're doing everything we can with my team to make sure I'll be able to play my first match here."Sabalenka's injury is a rare one in tennis. She described it as "really specific" and said she was only the second or third player to suffer from it."The most annoying thing is that I can do anything," Sabalenka said. "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."Sabalenka said she still had hopes of playing at Wimbledon, but it was clear after Monday's truncated hitting session that her 2023 campaign would not get off the ground.