A setback or a comeback? Wimbledon favorite Aryna Sabalenka’s journey took a dramatic turn as she withdrew ahead of the tournament owing to an injured shoulder. However, hold your breath, as there is light at the end of the tunnel, after all. The Belarusian player, who took a short hiatus following her quarterfinal exit from Berlin, has provided a sneak peek into her recovery process timeline!

The two-time Grand Slam champion engaged in a Q&A session on her Instagram a while ago, and, inevitably, questions regarding her health came flooding in one after another. However, right from the first response, her positive mindset came as a relief for fans. “I’m doing well…and as always…staying positive,” she answered to the first fan question. Another fan, curious about how her recovery from a shoulder injury is going, posed a similar inquiry.

Fortunately, her response serves a reassurance for all of us! “It’s going very well!,” she wrote. The 26-year-old further shared the details of her ongoing treatment, and wrote, “My last ultrasound showed that my shoulder has healed, so I got to start playing tennis again this week.” Sparking optimism among her fans, the only question that followed after this update was: when will we see her play next?

Echoing the same emotion, when a fan asked her about her comeback, she wrote “Washington DC,” along with her usual smiling picture with a racquet in hand. This definitely brought smiles back to our faces as well. Especially as we saw her struggle with her shoulder mid-match in the Grass Courts Championships in Berlin against Anna Kalinskaya.

The World No. 3 had to retire, but the severity of her injury grew more serious as it slipped into her ability to perform in Wimbledon as well. “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 said on her Instagram, three weeks ago.

Over the last few months, it seems Sabalenka’s injury and distress are not subsiding at all. Even during the French Open, a stomach bug became a concern for her, and before that, it was a lower back injury that almost compelled her to retire from the Italian Open. Nevertheless, she drove with ease, even on these bumpy roads, as she kept pushing her limits.

Reaching the finals of the Italian Open following a Madrid Open final clash was an example of the same. Now, as the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, DC, draws closer (starting on July 29), Sabalenka is up on her feet to have a massive comeback! Although the recovery is going smoothly as of now, earlier she revealed her frustration with the injury, which is not only troubling her physically but mentally, too.

Sabalenka delves into her “frustrating” shoulder issue

Citing her injury as the reason behind her Olympics withdrawal, Sabalenka’s shoulder muscle injury has indeed proved to be quite a battle for her. Known for her aggressive form, the strength of shoulder muscle is one of the key aspects of her powerful performance in the tennis courts. However, as she picked up an injury that hindered her from giving her usual shots, it became quite difficult for her to endure it. 

Mimicking the same emotion, Sabalenka said, “It’s really frustrating. I’ve never been through a serious injury. It’s already a lot to go through now. The last month has been very challenging, I’ve been struggling with a lot of pain. It’s a mental battle as well, you have to find the positive side.” Besides, she further emphasized the difficulty that she faces with serves more than her groundstrokes, which makes it even more “annoying” for the Belarusian player.

Nevertheless, Sabalenka is not letting an injury dim her shine in tennis. “I still have my hopes,” she said earlier. Now, as she comes back with new energy, let’s hope we get to see her incredible serves and shots once again!