Aryna Sabalenka sustained an injury to her shoulder during the 2024 Berlin Open, and she admitted that she still feels discomfort while playing in Washington. Sabalenka’s troublesome summer began at the Berlin Open, where she suffered a shoulder injury at the WTA 500 event, where a few other players also got injured. Marketa Vondrousova was among those who injured herself in Berlin. The severity of Sabalenka’s injury was enough to force her to withdraw from Wimbledon, a decision that she was not enthusiastic about but had to make.
She had made the decision to skip the Olympics prior to the injury, which gave her an additional week to recover from her shoulder injury. She made her return last week at the 2024 Citi Open in Washington, where she had a decent performance but was ultimately defeated in the semi-finals by Marie Bouzkova. Despite the soreness in her shoulder that she experienced during her time in Washington, it does not appear to be a significant issue. In fact, she traveled to Toronto and performed well at the 2024 Canadian Open. After the match, she provided an update on the condition of her shoulder, expressing hope that she will not have to endure similar experiences in the future.
She also mentioned that playing in her first tournament after the injury was challenging because she had to be cautious and avoid overexertion to protect her shoulder, which created additional tension. However, she underwent a significant amount of recovery and mobility stretches, which helped alleviate the soreness. Sabalenka confirmed that her shoulder is now feeling much better than before, which is excellent news considering the upcoming US Open. Shoulder issues can persist, especially if not properly healed, and they are crucial for tennis players as they rely on their shoulders for various shots such as serves, forehands, and backhands.
In Washington, Sabalenka was taking it easy to preserve her health, but it affected her performance. She understands that playing at that level will not take her far in the US Open, so her primary goal is to ensure her full recovery, which is why she dedicates more time to stretching and mobility exercises. She emphasized that she spends a significant amount of time on extra mobility, stretches, and treatment to improve her shoulder condition. She now feels much more at ease on the court, with no hindrances, allowing her to focus solely on the game and give her best performance.
Photo from Aryna Sabalenka Instagram
