On the first day of the third major tournament of the year, world number three Aryna Sabalenka announced she was withdrawing from Wimbledon due to a chronic shoulder injury she suffered at last month’s Berlin Open.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to inform you all that I will not be able to take part in this year’s Championship,” the former world number one wrote on his Twitter account. “I tried everything to prepare but unfortunately my shoulder just isn’t feeling right. This tournament means a lot to me and I promise to come back next year stronger than ever.”
It breaks my heart to have to tell you all that I will not be able to take part in this year’s championship. I tried everything to prepare but unfortunately my shoulder was not good. This tournament means a lot to me and I promise that next year I will come back stronger than ever. ❤️
— Sabalenka Alina (@SabalenkaA) July 1, 2024
The 26-year-old Sabalenka, who won her second consecutive Australian Open title earlier this year, was expected to be a favorite to win Wimbledon this year when healthy. She was the favorite to win the French Open earlier this summer, but lost in the quarterfinals to 17-year-old Mila Andreeva. Even when she was the favorite to win the French Open, Sabalenka was plagued by a back injury that prevented her from competing at her best.
Sabalenka will rest her sore shoulder in the hope of being fully healthy by the time the U.S. Open begins in August.