Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur forced to retire at German Open as Coca Gauff advances to semi-finals
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Published 22/06/2024 at 14:47 GMT+1
Top seed Coco Gauff admitted her victory over Ons Jabeur did not "feel like a win" as she advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA German Open. The epic 68-minute first set in Berlin was eventually claimed by the American via an 11-9 tie-break. Jabeur was not the only player to retire on Saturday, with world No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka also departing due to a shoulder injury.
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Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka were both forced to retire at the German Open quarter-final stage, as Coco Gauff and Anna Kalinskaya advanced.
An emotional Jabeur left the court after an energy-sapping 68-minute first set which top-seed Gauff took 7-6(9), admitting afterwards that it did not "feel like a win".
The Tunisian seemed dazed as her coaches took her temperature at the conclusion of the 11-9 tie-break, while Sabalenka retired at 5-1 due to a shoulder injury.
With victory, world No. 2 Gauff will make another last-four appearance after reaching the Australian Open and French Open semi-finals, also beating Jabeur in the latter at the same stage.
Serving first, Gauff fended off two break points to lead 2-1 as each player eventually held until the tie-break.
Jabeur had to dig deep at 5-4 down in the opening set. She fought off seven break points to eventually draw level, despite a controversial decision from the umpire to play a let at 40-30 due to interference from the court’s loudspeaker.
Even in the tie-break, the server dominated, with the first 16 points won on serve.
It took a failed drop shot from Jabeur and a clinical hold from Gauff to settle the set, with the world No. 10 bidding the crowd an emotional goodbye shortly afterwards.
Gauff expected her opponent’s condition would only be temporary and paid tribute to the 29-year-old.
“It doesn’t feel like a win, especially as we had such a great first set," Gauff said. "But I wish Ons the best. I think it’s good news.
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“I think it’s something that is just going to happen today and she’ll feel better tomorrow, so I know she’s going to be strong at Wimbledon.
“It’s tough to play against her on grass. Her ball is very tough to play. She has very good hands and sometimes you just don’t know what to do when you play her.”
Sabalenka forced out with shoulder issue
Kalinskaya reached the semi-finals after world No. 3 Sabalenka retired towards the end of the first set.
She will make her first WTA grass-court semi-final appearance following the win.
Sabalenka tried and failed to play through a shoulder injury, calling a medical time out trailing 4-1.
It was the second time that Kalinskaya won by walkover at this year's German Open, with Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova slipping and injuring her right hip in the second round.
The 25-year-old now has an impressive 7-0 win record over top-10 players this season.
The Russian will face Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in the last four, while Gauff will take on Jessica Pegula who beat Katerina Siniakova.
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