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.”
American Jessica Pegula, ranked third in the world, reached the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Tennis Tennis Tournament, after a difficult victory over her compatriot Amanda Anisimova, ranked tenth, with a score of 6 - 4, 2 - 6, 7 - 6 (7 - 4), on Thursday, in a confrontation that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.
After Pegula decided the first set, Anisimova responded strongly in the second and imposed a decisive third set, during which she succeeded in dragging her opponent to a tiebreak, before Pegula decided it in her favor and secured the ticket to the semi-finals.
Pegula continued her superiority in direct confrontations against Anisimova, achieving her sixth successive victory over her in six confrontations between them.
Pegula, who is 32 years old and runner-up in the US Open in 2024, is experiencing one of the best seasons of her career, after winning the Dubai and Charleston titles, and reaching the finals of the Berlin and Washington tournaments, in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
In the semi-finals, Pegula is waiting for the winner to face Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, ranked second in the world, and Poland's Iga Szywontek, ranked fifth and newly crowned champion of the Toronto 1,000-point tournament.
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.
