Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur have become the latest Wimbledon favourites to withdraw early from matches ahead of a Grand Slam tournament.
Sabalenka, ranked third in the world, appeared to be suffering from a shoulder injury and withdrew from the Berlin Open quarterfinals during a 5-1 loss to Anna Kalinskaya.
Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon finalist, decided not to continue due to illness after losing the first set 7-6 (11-9) to Coco Gauff.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and 2022 champion Elena Rybakina also withdrew from matches early in the tournament.
The first round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon begins on July 1.
Jabeur saved eight set points before Gauff, the top seed from the United States, took the first set.
The Tunisian appeared to be having breathing problems and decided not to start the second set after receiving medical attention.
“I don’t feel like I won. I had a great first set,” Gauff said in an on-court interview after the match.
“I wish Ons the best of luck. I think what happened today will make him better tomorrow, so hopefully he can play at Wimbledon.”
Earlier this week, Czech player Vondrousova slipped and injured her right hip during her second-round match against Kalinskaya, while Rybakina withdrew from her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka due to illness.
Gauff will face either compatriot Jessica Pegula or Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals later on Saturday.
Pegula was leading 4-2 in the final set when play was stopped due to rain on Friday.
Kalinskaya, who is 7-0 against top-10 players this season, will face former world number one Azarenka.
