Azarenka advances to Berlin semis as Rybakina pulls out

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina pulled out of Friday’s Berlin WTA tournament while trailing Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals.

Rybakina, the third seed, was 1-3 down and visibly struggling in the first set before pulling up at 15-all on her serve.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion also withdrew from Rome last month citing illness before the quarterfinals, just before the French Open.

The 25-year-old Russian-born Kazakh was stunned by Italian Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros.

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She will bid to recover for Wimbledon starting on July 1 where she lost in the quarterfinals last year to Tunisian Ons Jabeur.

Former No 1 Azarenka, 34, will play either compatriot Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, or Russian Anna Kalinskaya in Saturday’s semifinal.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova retired injured from her second-round match in the Berlin grass-court event on Thursday against Kalinskaya.