Marketa Vondrousova suffers injury in Berlin ahead of Wimbledon title defence

Marketa Vondrousova’s Wimbledon defence could be in doubt. Pic: John Walton/PA

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered an injury scare ahead of the tournament when she was forced to retire in Berlin.

The Czech, a surprise winner of her first grand slam title last summer, sustained a nasty fall behind the baseline during her second-round match against Anna Kalinskaya at the ecotrans Ladies Open.

Vondrousova, who was leading 5-3 at the time, got up gingerly, holding her right hip area, and took an off-court medical time-out.

Get well soon, Maky ❤️‍🩹

No.5 seed Marketa Vondrousova is forced to retire against Kalinskaya due to a right hip injury with the score at 5-5.#ecotransLadiesOpen pic.twitter.com/eBlkRlPL8f

— wta (@WTA) June 20, 2024

She returned with heavy strapping and played two more games but lost both before shaking hands with Kalinskaya.

As the defending champion, Vondrousova is due to play her first-round match at the All England Club on Centre Court on July 2.

The Czech’s predecessor, Elena Rybakina, made it through to the quarter-finals with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Veronika Kudermetova.