Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka were both unfortunately forced to retire at the German Open quarter-final stage, as Coco Gauff and Anna Kalinskaya advanced to the next round. An emotional Jabeur left the court after a grueling 68-minute first set which top-seed Gauff managed to take with a 7-6(9) victory. Jabeur admitted afterwards that it did not “feel like a win” for her, showing just how disheartened she was by the outcome. The Tunisian seemed disoriented as her coaches checked her temperature at the end of the intense 11-9 tie-break. On the other hand, Sabalenka retired at 5-1 due to a shoulder injury that left her unable to continue.
In the match between Gauff and Jabeur, Gauff managed to hold off two break points early on to take a 2-1 lead. Both players held their serve well throughout the set, leading to a tie-break to decide the outcome. Despite facing a deficit of 5-4 in the opening set, Jabeur fought off seven break points to level the score. There was a controversial moment when the umpire decided to play a let at 40-30 due to interference from the court’s loudspeaker, adding to the drama of the match. The tie-break was also closely contested, with both players dominating on their serves. Ultimately, it was a failed drop shot from Jabeur and a solid hold from Gauff that sealed the set, with the world No. 10 bidding farewell to the crowd following the emotional win.
Gauff expressed empathy for her opponent’s condition and paid respects to Jabeur’s fighting spirit. She believed that Jabeur’s health issues were just temporary and that she would bounce back stronger for Wimbledon. Gauff praised Jabeur’s playing style on grass and acknowledged the challenges of facing such a skilled opponent on that surface. The young American tennis star emphasized the difficulty of playing against Jabeur due to her exceptional ball control and impressive hand skills.
On the other side of the quarter-final draw, Anna Kalinskaya advanced to the semi-finals as world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka was forced to retire towards the end of the first set. Kalinskaya’s victory earned her a spot in her first WTA grass-court semi-final, marking a significant achievement in her career. Sabalenka struggled to play through a shoulder injury and eventually called for a medical timeout while trailing 4-1 in the set. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Sabalenka boasts an impressive 7-0 win record against top-10 players this season, showcasing her prowess on the professional circuit.
In the upcoming semi-final matches, Kalinskaya is set to face off against Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, while Gauff will take on Jessica Pegula who secured a win over Katerina Siniakova. The stage is set for thrilling and competitive matchups as these talented players vie for a spot in the final at the German Open.
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