In an unexpected twist during the 2025 US Open, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the semifinals without playing a single point. Her scheduled quarterfinal rival, Marketa Vondrousova, pulled out with a knee injury, instantly transforming a highly-anticipated showdown into a solemn reminder of the fragility of the sport. Moments like this teach fans about the sweat, sacrifices, and unseen pain behind each brilliant performance, and reveal the quiet respect among athletes, even rivals. Though Sabalenka remains a feared competitor, the crowd suspended its applause and instead nods sympathy to its conqueror-to-come.
The Withdraw That Shook the Quarterfinals
During the twilight of the Tuesday schedule, minutes after the day-session crowd filled the Billie Jean King Complex, the tournament made a brief, heavy announcement: Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the quarterfinals. The 2023 Wimbledon champion explained, via a release, that persistent swelling in the left knee had returned with red-alert intensity during the warm-up. Aryna was already dressed in her pearl-whites, ready to shuttle. The physician advised that further weeks of potential pain and sliding endorsements of surgery also loomed. Both consensus and scoreboard stayed with the champion. It was the first walkover of this magnitude in a US Open women’s quarterfinal since 1988—a record that illustrates, disturbingly, what twinged collective concern clipboard stats cannot capture.
Vondrousova expressed sadness when she shared, “I did my best to get on court today, but my knee flared again in the warm-up. After talking with the tournament doctor, I chose not to risk the injury getting worse. Thank you to the tournament for the support, and I’m sorry to the fans.” Her withdrawal let Sabalenka move straight to the semifinals. Jessica Pegula will now serve as her next opponent.
Sabalenka answered with compassion. Known for her big serve and even bigger emotions, she still kept her social media post gentle. She typed, “I’m so sorry for Marketa after everything she has fought through. She was playing such great tennis, and I know how painful this moment is. Please rest and recover quickly.” This reply shows how athletes care for each other, even amid rivalries. It’s the first time of Sabalenka’s career that she earned a major semifinal spot without finishing a match.
The Unseen Struggles of Marketa Vondrousova
Marketa Vondrousova’s path in professional tennis has never been a straight line. Instead, it has been a series of injuries that shape the story long before the match. Once, she soared to the No. 6 ranking in the world. Then came 2022, when she sat in a hospital room for wrist surgery, followed last year by procedures that aimed to repair the shoulder that powers her finest shots.
Even the romance of a comeback— her run to the US Open quarter-finals, knocking out Julia Paolini and Elena Rybakina—was preceded by a long, dismal retreat from court. “This place is so special,” she typed in a recent Instagram post, “Exactly a year ago, I was in surgery, not even sure I would ever return.”
Now that she has exited the tournament even before finishing the first week, a hush has settled over her supporters and the organizers alike. Vondrousova’s departure from the draw is a reminder that even the strongest athletes can suddenly stumble, often with no fair warning. “Highest of highs,” one writer summarized her career, “yet still robbed of its promise.” That line captures the strange echo haunting her days: the day she walked off Centre Court with the 2023 Wimbledon trophy, and the days that have followed, where she’s been forced to watch her own highlights from a treatment room. She remains that rare champion followed—almost encaged—by what the body never gave it a chance to complete.
Sabalenka’s Path Forward
After pulling off an upset, Aryna Sabalenka is now gearing up for a huge semifinal clash with No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula. This is a repeat of last year’s US Open final, where Sabalenka triumphed in straight sets. Pegula hasn’t lost a set all week, so she will be no easy target. For Sabalenka, this match is a chance to confirm that she’s still the biggest name in women’s tennis. She’s the reigning world No. 1 and holds three Grand Slam singles trophies, including the 2024 titles in both Melbourne and New York.
The Belarusian’s year has been nothing short of spectacular, with trophies in Madrid, Miami, and Brisbane, plus runner-up finishes at both the Aussie Open and the French Open. Her serving power and explosive baseline shots turn every match into a test for opponents, but what truly sets her apart is the combination of mental resolve and compassion she has shown on and off the court. Her heartfelt words to Marketa Vondrousova after the Czech’s injury earlier this week highlighted the human side of her competitive fire.
Historical Context and Tournament Implications
Marketa Vondrousova’s walkover is an unusual event in today’s tennis and echoes in New York’s hard courts. The last time a player advanced to a US Open final this way was 1988, when Steffi Graf slipped past a scratched semifinal against Chris Evert. That episode now frames Saturday’s headline. For Aryna Sabalenka, the unexpected bye comes with an extra day’s rest that could sharpen her serve and energize her legs in later rounds. Paradoxically, it robs her of the adrenaline and lessons a tight match would provide; the moment could become a subtle blessing or a hidden curse.
Meanwhile, the remaining quarterfinals promise drama. Iga Swiatek meets Amanda Anisimova, the same opponent she dominated in the Wimbledon final. Anisimova, double-bageled that day, steps onto the Arthur Ashe court in search of payback. Across the draw, Karolina Muchova’s clash with Naomi Osaka carries its own urgency. Osaka hasn’t reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021, and each rally now carries the weight of nostalgia and the search for a comeback. These showdowns shape the route to the final and heighten the stakes beyond the usual Grand Slam flair.
The Bigger Picture: Athlete Welfare in Tennis
Vondrousova’s late withdrawal isn’t just a single story. It’s another call to pay attention to athlete welfare in a game that keeps asking its players to push the limits. With a calendar stuffed full,- the hard-court portions that blur into the spring and late summer leave few truly free months—careers get pulled apart by wear. Vondrousova herself put it plainly: “A lot of treatment after. To play these matches again and again, yes, I liked today,” she said. One sentence, two worlds—love for tennis and the ache that never stops.
Beyond the scoreboard, the episode also reminds everyone of the kind of sportsmanship that matters. Sabalenka’s quick and heartfelt check-in showed a sisterhood behind the scoreboard, a stat that never gets officially logged. When mental and physical condition is front-page talk, those quiet words and gestures turn into loud statements of power.
Looking Ahead: Semifinal Predictions
Now Sabalenka gets ready to meet Pegula in a semifinals that guarantees fireworks. Pegula’s steady rifle of a rhythm going up against Sabalenka’s artillery is a clash of styles that never gets old. Whoever gets through will then likely board another playoff against Swiatek or Osaka, a last-stand anticipation in its own right. To Sabalenka, a victory is a hammer insisting she belongs in the discussion of tennis royalty; to Pegula, it’s a shot redeemed, the shot she didn’t finish last time.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic fought tooth and nail to edge past Taylor Fritz, earning a semifinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz. At 38, Djokovic keeps rewriting what it means to age well in a sport that demands everything. Alcaraz, the sport’s shining young star, stands ready to test that. Their ongoing skirmish, followed by fans everywhere, pumps even more adrenaline into the entire tournament.
Conclusion: A Tale of Resilience and Respect
The 2025 US Open will be remembered not just for dazzling rallies, but for the tender moments reminding us that every athlete is human. Marketa Vondrousova’s tearful exit because of injury pulls our hearts tight, a vivid illustration of the toll training takes. Aryna Sabalenka, the same night, wipes away a fan’s tear and keeps the focus, proving true Champions wear the mantle graciously. Now, as she marches into the semifinals, fans and wannabe stars feel her drive, her cannonball serves and her simple kindness. Sabalenka is, without doubt, this era’s mantle—bold rival and mindful friend in every frame.
Ultimately, the 2025 US Open tells us the scoreboard is secondary to the visible, quiet cheer that keeps players lifting one another. Sabalenka, at some press conference soon, will certainly tilt her head and say it: this love for the game outweighs the saddest injuries, the hardest nights.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/02/sport/tennis-us-open-sabalenka-vondrousova-walkover
For more incredible stories of everyday news, return to our homepage.
