Aryna Sabalenka Is "Heartbroken" to Withdrawal From Wimbledon

Aryna Sabalenka withdrawals from Wimbledon due to a rare shoulder injury.

Aryna Sabalenka will not play Wimbledon. / Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

When speaking with the media this weekend, Aryna Sabalenka casted doubt on her ability to play Wimbledon. Now it is official, Sabalenka has officially withdrawn from Wimbledon.

The World No. 3 player is dealing with what she describes as a "very rare" shoulder injury. It relates to the teres major muscle in her right shoulder.

Sabalenka wrote on her Instagram story, "Heartbroken to have to tell you all that I won't be able to play The Championships this year. I tried everything to get myself ready but unfortunately my shoulder is not cooperating."

She continued, "I pushed myself to the limit in practice today to try my best, but my team explained that playing would only make things much worse. This tournament means so much to me and I promise I'll be back stronger than ever next year."

We'll miss you at #Wimbledon this year, @SabalenkaA 🫶 pic.twitter.com/KN7QKg1GLT

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024

This is disappointing news for tennis fans, and it will have a major impact on the women's singles bracket this year.

Sabalenka was scheduled to face Emina Bekta this morning. Sabalenka was replaced in the draw by Erika Andreeva, who lost in qualifying last week.

Injuries and scheduling conflicts with the Summer Olympics have wreaked havoc on grass court season this year. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

Further Reading: Novak Djokovic explained why he rushed back from knee surgery to play Wimbledon.