World number two Elena Rybakina was forced to withdraw from her match in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters, after she was trailing 1-4 to Iga Chvyontek in the first set, Thursday.
The Kazakh woman suddenly stopped playing after she was unable to bear her weight on the heel of her left foot. After a short intervention from her coach, she was forced to withdraw after taking one additional point.
Rybakina's injury comes 10 days before the start of the US Open, while Sheviontek was given a ticket to the semi-finals in Cincinnati, where she will face third seed Jessica Pegula, who defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4).
If Rybakina, who has won two Grand Slam titles, had reached the Cincinnati final, she would have risen to the top of the world rankings for the first time in her career, after the current leader, Aryna Sabalenka, was eliminated in the round of 16.
Belarusian Sabalenka was surprised by Czech Sara Bielec, ranked 35 in the world, in a strong match that ended in the early hours of Thursday morning, being the latest setback in a series of disappointing results for the champion who has been crowned with four major tournament titles.
“Honestly, I was worried as soon as I saw what happened,” Sheviontek said in an on-field interview. I hope that you are well. "It is clear that the next tournament is the priority."
She added: “I know that this tournament is also important, but the US Open remains the US Open, and I hope you are ready for it.” She is also very close to becoming number one in the world, so it is unfortunate what happened.”
TWG Global confirmed that the Cadillac team competing in the Formula 1 World Championship is not for sale, denying that there are any plans to change the ownership of its assets in motor sports, amid speculation about the sports investments of billionaire Mark Walter following the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers team.
The company's position came after the Financial Times reported in recent days that Walter is also in negotiations to sell his stake in the English club Chelsea.
The company said, in a statement provided by a Cadillac Formula 1 spokesman, to reporters on the sidelines of the Dutch Grand Prix: “TWAG is not considering selling the Cadillac team or any other part of TWAG Motorsports.”
TWG Motor Sports co-owns Cadillac, and also owns the Andretti Global teams in the IndyCar Series and the Formula E World Championship for electric cars, in addition to participation in Nascar and the Australian Supercars Championship.
Walter's sports investments also include the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's Basketball League.
In another context, the Cadillac team witnessed a change in its leadership this month, after Marcin Budkowski was appointed team president, succeeding founding director Graeme Loudon, after 11 races of the season.
Budkowski said, during a press conference at the Zandvoort Arena, that he did not ask for guarantees regarding the future ownership of the team before assuming his position.
For his part, Mexican Sergio Perez, a Cadillac driver, considered that the change in team leadership reflects his ambition for development, despite his failure to score any points during the first 11 rounds.
Perez said that Loudon played a major role in Cadillac's arrival to its current position, before adding that the arrival of new leadership gives the team a different perspective, considering that the move shows Cadillac's willingness to move its Formula 1 project forward as quickly as possible.
Deportivo Alaves tied with its host Rayo Vallecano 1-1, on Thursday evening, in the second round of the Spanish Football League.
Rayo Vallecano won its first point in the new season, after it had begun its campaign by losing to its host Sevilla 1-2 in the first round.
On the other hand, Alaves raised its score to four points, after opening its season with a great victory over its guest Getafe 3-0.
Rayo Vallecano took the lead with a goal scored by Sergio Perez in the 48th minute, before Alaves succeeded in equalizing six minutes before the end of regular time, through Mariano Diaz, leaving both teams with a point each.
