It’s the hard-fought wins that make the triumph sweet! However, if the current scenario of women’s tennis is taken into account, the grass slam could be a lackluster event. As Coco Gauff moves forward in her grass-court campaign, many stars are forced to bid adieu midway. Either injury or sickness halted their preparations for the Wimbledon Open. And now there are two questions. First, would Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Ons Jabeur make a comeback at the Grass Major? And second, who could challenge Gauff in her journey towards the 2nd Grand Slam?

Gauff turned the tables in her favor after she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. She was unable to repeat the feat at the Australian Open and the French Open. But she didn’t return empty-handed and won the French Open doubles with Katerina Siniakova. And as she transitions to the dangerous grass court from Clay, her prospects for the Wimbledon title seem much greener, with the possibility of several key players missing from the roster.

The first player on the list of withdrawals was Kazakh player Elena Rybakina. The former Wimbledon champion was anticipated to give a tough fight for the prestigious crown. However, the recent turn of events ruled her out of the list. During her match against Victoria Azarenka, Rybakina retired from the match within 15 minutes of its commencement. Reason? “Forced to retire due to abdominal pain,” according to the WTA. The possibility of her return might be high, as she escaped the dangerous grass slip injury. However, she has been consistently facing fitness issues. In Indian Wells, it was a gastrointestinal illness. She withdrew from the Italian Open due to persistent health issues, including allergies and sleeping. Only time will tell how prepared she will be if she is back in London.

In the case of Aryna Sabalenka, the player has already withdrawn from the Paris Olympics to focus on the Grand Slam. However, the latest updates seem to have crushed her hopes for a strong Wimbledon campaign. At the Berlin Open quarterfinals against Anna Kalinskaya, Sabalenka withdrew from the first set itself. The World No. 3 called for a medical timeout early in the set but was unable to continue due to “shoulder pain.” However, she was seen smiling shortly after, hence rubbishing the rumors of a serious injury. But with less practice, the transition to grass might cost her the Wimbledon title. 

Lastly, the third strong contender, who has been a runner-up at Wimbledon for the last two years, is Ons Jabeur. There were and still are strong hopes that Jabeur could turn it around this year. However, during the quarterfinals at the Berlin Open, Jabeur retired after losing the first set. The Tunisian had a “high temperature” after playing for around 75 minutes. Though hopes are on Jabeur’s side, as fans wish for her to return to London.

However, they are not the only players who have suffered from illness or injury during the fateful Berlin Open. Marketa Vondrousova also withdrew due to a leg injury. Amidst all these, the chances of Coco Gauff’s successful campaign in London rise. The American tennis star is certainly at an advantage when it comes to the development of fitness and health! However, as humble as ever, Gauff wants to win fair and square in a nail-biting thriller. She wishes Jabeur a speedy recovery. 

Coco Gauff wishes to see Jabeur at the Wimbledon Open

It wasn’t the Wimbledon Open, but Gauff and Jabeur gave their fans a glimpse of what was about to come. Before giving them massive heartbreak. In an hour-long battle, Jabeur made Gauff fight for every point. The set went into deuce, with no clear winner in sight. However, World No. 2 mustered a bit more power to claim two straight points to win the first set. 

The battle got everybody on the edge of their seats. But Jabeur retired due to the high temperature, and Gauff was unhappy with the win handed to her on a silver platter. She said, “It doesn’t feel like a win, especially because we had such a great first set. I wish Ons the best. I think it’s something that’s just gonna happen today and she’ll feel better tomorrow. I think she’ll be strong at Wimbledon. ❤️”

It was certainly a humble and great show of sportsmanship from the 20-year-old. As she prepares for the ultimate battle, could some misses on the grass court lead Coco Gauff to Wimbledon glory?