Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Berlin WTA tournament on Friday while trailing Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals. The third-seeded Rybakina was down 1-3 in the first set and visibly struggling before pulling out at 15-all on her serve.

Rybakina, who claimed the Wimbledon title in 2022, had previously withdrawn from the Rome tournament last month due to illness before reaching the quarter-finals, which was just ahead of the French Open. In a surprising turn at Roland Garros, she was defeated in the quarter-finals by Italian Jasmine Paolini.

The 25-year-old, who was born in Russia but represents Kazakhstan, is now focusing on recovering in time for Wimbledon, which starts on July 1. Last year, she made it to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon before losing to Tunisian Ons Jabeur.

Victoria Azarenka, the former world number one, will face either her compatriot, second seed Aryna Sabalenka, or Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In related news, reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova also retired injured from her second-round match against Kalinskaya in the Berlin grass-court event on Thursday.