Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur have become the latest top-10 players to retire from the Berlin Open due to injury or illness, after Wimbledon champions Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova also withdrew earlier in the week.
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Sabalenka was forced to retire from her quarter-final against Russia's Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday with shoulder pain when the Belarusian trailed 5-1 in the opening set.
It marked the first time in her WTA Tour career that Sabalenka had retired from a match because of injury.
Kalinskaya reached the semi-finals with two walkovers after Wimbledon champion Vondrousova slipped and fell during their last-16 match, forcing the Czech player to retire.
But Kalinskaya then defeated former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 on Saturday to reach the final. Yet her opponent is not yet known as weather affected the event again.
Jabeur, meanwhile, was involved in a 72-minute opening set in her quarter-final with Coco Gauff which the American won 7-6 (11-9) before the Tunisian retired because of illness.
Jabeur was seen getting her temperature checked before she retired.
"It doesn't feel like a win, especially because we had such a great first set. I wish Ons the best," Gauff said after reaching the semi-finals.
"I think it's something that's just going to happen today and she'll feel better tomorrow. I think she'll be strong at Wimbledon."
Later on Saturday, Gauff's semi-final against fellow American Jessica Pegula was suspended for the night due to rain, with Pegula leading 7-5 6-6 (3-1) and just four points away from the final to be played later on Sunday.
On Friday, Rybakina withdrew due to illness, sending Belarusian Victoria Azarenka through to the semi-finals.
Rybakina was visibly struggling with what appeared to be abdominal pains.
Australian Associated Press
