Azarenka withdraws from Cincinnati

Belarus’ world number 19 Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an injury, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian was to face world number 68 Lucia Bronzetti of Italy but just before the start she had to withdraw from the event. Most likely this is due to a shoulder injury she sustained last week and had to retire from her Round of 16 matchup against Cincinnati native Peyton Stearns in the National Bank Open in Toronto.

Victoria Azarenka won the Cincinnati Open in 2013 and 2020. Lucia Bronzetti will now face Spain’s world number 91 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

World number 3 Aryna Sabalenka will launch her Cincinnati campaign against world number 66 Elisabetta Cocciareto of Italy in the second round.

The previous edition was won by world number 2 Coco Gauff of the United States, who will play Kazakhstan’s world number 33 Yulia Putintseva in the round of Last 32.