Wimbledon struck with fifth retirement as Anna Kalinskaya fails to finish Elena Rybakina match
Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire from her match
REUTERS
Anna Kalinskaya has become the fifth person to retire midway through a match at this year's Wimbledon after failing to finish her fourth-round clash with Elena Rybakina.
The Russian tennis star started the match strongly after breaking the former Wimbledon champion's serve in the first game.
But Rybakina soon got back into the contest after breaking back in the sixth game before holding to love comfortably.
There was concern for Kalinskaya though as she called the physio onto court before taking a medical timeout.
Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire from her match
REUTERS
The 25-year-old was visibly grimacing as the physio treated her wrist and looked in some discomfort throughout.
Kalinskaya's boyfriend, world No 1 Jannik Sinner, was looking on with a concerned expression in the player's box.
She returned to the court to continue the first set, but still looked far from comfortable.
Rybakina showed no mercy on the other side of the net as she quickly wrapped up the first set.
And the 2022 Wimbledon champion took that momentum into the second set by immediately breaking her opponent's serve.
Kalinskaya then felt unable to continue after Rybakina clinched the double break with the No 17 seed wiping away tears as she picked up her bag.
Centre Court rose to their feet to applaud Kalinskaya as she made her way off the court.
She becomes the fifth player to retire from their match at Wimbledon this year, following Grigor Dimitrov, Madison Keys, Lucas Pouille and Hubert Hurkacz.
Rybakina showed her class after the match in sending well wishes to her opponent.
"Definitely not the way I wanted to finish the match," she said.
Anna Kalinskaya had a medical timeout in the first set
REUTERS
"She’s a great player and I know she was suffering with a couple of injuries.
"If it’s the wrist it’s difficult to continue to play and I just wish her a speedy recovery."
Rybakina is now the highest-ranked player left in the women's singles draw after Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek lost at the weekend.
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But the Kazakhstan star isn't feeling any pressure with the hope of becoming a two-time Wimbledon champion.
She said: "Every opponent is difficult and I know that I must always bring my best and that’s what I try to do form every match.
"I’m just really enjoying every time I step out on the court and I am happy I am going fine in the draw and hopefully I can go to the end."