Birmingham: World number five Elina Svitolina has expressed fears that a foot injury that contributed to her Aegon Classic defeat to Italian Camila Giorgi in Birmingham on Thursday could lead to her withdrawal from Wimbledon.
The in-form Ukrainian won the Italian Open in May and lost in the French Open quarter-finals earlier this month but has never progressed past the second round at the All England Club.
Svitolina, 22, has never won a tournament on grass and says that withdrawing from Wimbledon could help her get a head start on preparations for hard court tournaments later this year.
“I was really looking forward to this year at Wimbledon. But today the court was slippery and it’s so bad for my foot. I will do my best,” Svitolina told reporters after the match.
“But for the moment it’s very uncomfortable, and there is a question about it, because the season is still long and there is lots of big tournaments as well where I will feel more comfortable and confident on the hard court.” Svitolina joins a number of top players racing to be fit for Wimbledon, which begins on July 3, with Nick Kyrgios, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Juan Martin Del Potro all withdrawing from warm-up tournaments for the third grand slam of the year.
Meanwhile, young Croatian Ana Konjuh says cutting short former world number one Victoria Azarenka’s return from maternity leave at the Mallorca Open on Thursday can birth to her bright future.
The Belarusian, who saved match points in her first-round victory against Japan’s Risa Ozaki, went down 6-1 6-3 to the seventh seed on the grasscourts at Santa Ponsa.
Konjuh, 19, dominated from the start and Azarenka had no answer to the depth and power of her opponent.
“I know Azarenka is coming back, but it’s always tough to play against her,” said Konjuh, who did not allow Azarenka a point until the third game of the match.
“She’s one of the best players in the world.
“I was motivated for sure, and I’m really glad that I could play so well today and win.” Konjuh will face Anastasija Sevastova in the quarter-finals.